Workbook final

212 - Rugby - inclusion through sports, Women's Union RHEA, Georgia

ONTACT

Women's Union RHEA

Mr. Eliso Rekhviashvili

Georgia

No website available

+995 32 2933442

VERALL GOAL

MISSION

The project contributes to social inclusion through sports education in rugby. The mission of the project is to provide

teenagers/youngsters with intellectual disabilities with inclusive interaction through rugby. Players learn the rules of the

game, learn team identification and solidarity, increase their level of physical activity and fitness, and enhance

communication skills within a new social and inclusive environment of rugby players and enthusiasts of all ages.

The goals are to create a properly structured environment for positive co-development, co-trainings and fun; to

facilitate social relations between young people of different physical and intellectual abilities, as well as different

religious and ethnic backgrounds.

The activities include selection of players for mixed teams, composed from people with and without disabilities; regular

training / practise for youngsters with disabilities - separately and together with other team members according to the

methodology developed by RHEA and its partner Rugby Supporters' League (RSL); arranging matches locally with other

mixed teams; raising awareness about integrated sport activities / events through the media. RHEA and RSL developed a

special combination of sports and recreational exercises and fun games with elements of rugby to facilitate the inclusion

of children and youngsters with intellectual disabilities.

HE SOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED

RHEA has developed a programme to facilitate societal inclusion of people with disabilities through sport, specifically

through rugby which is very popular in Georgia. The activities enable people with intellectual disabilities to take part in a

sporting activity together with people without disabilities, experience solidarity as a member of a team, as well as

therapeutic advantages such as improving physical condition, widening the amplitude of movement, facilitating

improved concentration and attention span, better special orientation, understanding and adhering to the rules of a

team game and much more. All rugby team members have different physical abilities as well as different roles during

the game.

First time players and children who don't know the rules of rugby can nevertheless enjoy playing the game from the

minute they first touch the ball. Sports exercises with elements of rugby start with individual exercises with a rugby ball,