Bambino Gesù expands adaptive sports program for children with disabilities

Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital has launched an initiative to expand adaptive sports opportunities for children and adolescents with intellectual, motor, and relational disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum. The program, titled ‘Lo sport in OPBG, insieme per tutti’, aims to transition patients from hospital-based activities to continuous sports practice within their local communities.

Based at the Palidoro facility, the project allows participants aged 3 to 18 to experiment with various disciplines such as five-a-side football, basketball, table tennis, archery, and foosball. Supported by a multidisciplinary team and technicians from the Italian Paralympic Committee (CIP), the program seeks to increase its annual participation from 60 to 250 children. A key goal is to raise the rate of children continuing sports outside the hospital from 30% to 50%.

The initiative features involvement from professional athletes and medical staff, including Olympic fencing champion Daniele Garozzo, who is currently a medical trainee at the hospital. The collaboration with the CIP focuses on identifying suitable disciplines based on each child's specific abilities and passions to ensure long-term engagement in local sports clubs.