From June 20 to June 30 the Camp Shriver annual summer sports and recreation camp has been opened for children with intellectual disabilities in Almaty. The event is held by the Special Olympics Kazakhstan Public Association. Traditionally the Kcell company was general partner of the camp.
70 children with disabilities, 10 coaches and 20 volunteers have participated in the camp this year. Small sportsmen got the opportunity to train upon 5 kinds of sports: futsal, badminton, basketball, bocce, floorball.
The main purpose of the camp is formation of positive attitude to people with mental disabilities through different sports events.
“We have already been the partners of the Special Olympics Kazakhstan for more than 10 years. We are happy, that with support of our company this year, children from ordinary families, as well as inmates of special children`s homes were able to learn new kind of sports. During all 10 days the children could breathe fresh air, find new friends and got lots of positive emotions, which they will be able to share with for a long time. Support of such social projects is one the key direction of social responsibility of our company, — noted Natalya Eskova, Leader of the Communication Division of the Kcell JSC.
*** Special Olympics is one the largest year-round program of sports training and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities in the world, established in 1968 by the Kennedy family (USA). More than one million people in 170 countries of the world are training upon 26 summer and winter Olympic kinds of sports at the local, national and international level.
All over the world the Camp Shriver movement has existed since 1962, and the first camp was held six years ago in Almaty. Within this short period the Camp Shriver has become an important link in the process of assistance and support of Kazakhstan children with intellectual disabilities.