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Prof. dr.sc. Mirjana Sanader (third from left), the wife of the Croatian Prime Minister, with coaches and swimmers from Rijeka. [All photos: Martha Jo Braycich, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia] |
One hundred and thirty swimmers competed in an annual Special Olympics aquatics competition on 11-12 October 2005 at the Utrina public pool in Zagreb, Croatia. The swimmers represented clubs throughout Croatia as well as one guest team from the Czech Republic.
Prof. dr.sc. Mirjana Sanader, the wife of the Croatian Prime Minister, attended the event. She was joined by Verna Zubovic and Dona Bebic, the spouses of senior members of parliament.
"The state can and should contribute to the inclusion of people with disabilities in the community and in everyday life," said Prof. dr.sc. Sanader. "I know that the government of Croatia supports measures to ensure access to sports and recreational facilities so that people with disabilities have equal opportunities." Prof. dr.sc. Sanader also said that through Special Olympics, "the inclusion of people with disabilities is recognized."
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Franjo Horvat (blue T-shirt), with his friends from the center where he works, was the chief organizer of the competition. |
Franjo Horvat was the chief organizer of the competition. Since joining Special Olympics Croatia four years ago, he has been the driving force behind the development of the aquatics program. Horvat, who is a physical education teacher in a residential center for children and adults with severe intellectual disabilities in Stancic Dugo Selo on the outskirts of Zagreb, saw swimming as a non-stressful sport that people with various levels of ability could enjoy. He started taking small groups to the local pool but had a bigger vision to start competitions, not only in his center, but across the country. Today, 30 centers participate in various competitions. Horvat continues to take groups to the local pool once or twice a month and he arranges for them to spend 10 days on the Dalmatian coast every year.
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Ankica Oreškovic, a local family coordinator, and her son Zoran Bralic, a Special Olympics athlete. |
Local elementary school teacher Darko Rogalo, who was responsible for the 45 mainly local school-age volunteers at the event, is helping build the Program's volunteer base. "At first, young people are suspicious about volunteering, but once they make the first contact they want to come back," Rogalo said. "Special Olympics is an excellent way to teach civic responsibility to young people because of its principles of tolerance and compassion, and it shows that we all must learn to live together."
Families were represented at the competition by Ankica Oreškovic, a local family coordinator who started a family association 30 years ago. Currently the association has 400 members. Her son, Zoran Bralic, 34, has been a Special Olympics athlete for 10 years. When asked why she started the association, Oreškovic said, "You can't just sit and cry. You must do something to help — not only your own child but others who are in a similar situation."
Oreškovic described the challenges of starting a family association. "It was hard to get the parents together at first. Thirty years ago there was a lot of shame attached to having a disabled child. But those barriers are being broken because of sheer hard work, the positive influence from abroad and parents being better informed," she said.
Oreškovic continued by speaking of the relevance of Special Olympics. "Special Olympics is important because it teaches parents how help their child to realize his or her potential, which is today's biggest challenge to families. Then they learn that Special Olympics improves the quality of life not only for one's child, but for the entire family."
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