HISPASAT, AMEB, Fundación Estudiantes create school for wheelchair basketball
February 12, 2016
Satellite operator HISPASAT, Fundación Estudiantes and AMEB (Spina Bifida Association of Madrid) have joined forces to create a school for wheelchair basketball. With it, they will facilitate disabled youth’s participation in wheelchair basketball and foster their integration, supporting the development of their techniques and their psychomotor skills, as well as their abilities in social and educational environments.
The Hispasat–AMEB–Estudiantes school is built upon the relationship formed by the three entities during the course of two consecutive ESTUCAMPs, held in July 2014 and 2015. Due to the project’s success, these entities decided to strengthen their relationship and join forces to create Movistar Estudiantes’ first-ever school for wheelchair basketball, channelled through the team’s foundation. The players at the school will be integrated into the reserves of the team, which will become the largest inclusive pool of reserve players in Europe, totalling 200 players with disabilities. HISPASAT is driving this new project within its CSR policy framework, which focuses on achieving objectives such as the promotion of sports and healthy lifestyle habits, as well as the integration of people with disabilities.
The school will have 30 athletes and will be open to all players who want to improve their skills in this sport. Practice will be held on Fridays and Saturdays in Valdebernardo, and there will be master classes taught by international players, such as Ryan Martin, the ESTUCAMP director at the Magariños sporting complex.
The school for wheelchair basketball provides a social link among the members of the team, nurturing values such as commitment, teamwork, self-improvement and solidarity, and encouraging healthy lifestyles. It seeks to be a point of reference for the overall development of the players on the team, both in sports and on a personal level.