Municipality of Katerini introduces Olympic sports to children with disabilities

The Municipality of Katerini has launched an initiative to introduce children from Persons with Disabilities (PwD) structures to Olympic sports. Organized by the Deputy Directorate of Sports as part of the European Week of Sport (September 23–30), the program aims to promote inclusion and the benefits of physical activity through experiential games.

Activities began with children from the ‘Merimna Pediou Katerinis’ visiting local municipal sports facilities, including the ‘Theodoros Diamantopoulos’ Municipal Sports Center. The children participated in demonstrations of sports such as handball and gymnastics, and explored swimming facilities.

To provide historical context, the program included an educational session on the history of the Olympic Games, dating back to the 1896 revival. Children were also shown Olympic torches from recent games, such as Athens and Beijing, to illustrate the traditions of the Olympic flame and torch relays. Mayor Ioannis Doumos and Deputy Mayor Savvas Karypidis emphasized that inclusion in sports is a matter of social responsibility and solidarity for all children.