Inclusion in Sports – Breaking Barriers, Creating Opportunities | Elena Reimchen | TEDxOTHRegensburg
Sports promote health, enhance well-being and connect people. Whether at the gym, in a swimming group, or on a soccer field - sports are an essential part of life for many. But what about those who don’t have the same opportunities to participate?
People with disabilities face numerous barriers, from inaccessible infrastructure to societal attitudes and a lack of awareness. However, inclusion in sports goes beyond accessibility - it requires a fundamental shift in how we design, teach, and think about sports.
What needs to happen that inclusion can fully be possible?
How can we create environments where everyone, regardless of ability, feels welcome and empowered? What role do coaches, institutions, and society play in shaping a truly inclusive sports culture?
In this engaging talk, Elena Reimchen will examine the key differences between inclusion and integration, highlighting their impact on sports. She will share insights into the transformative power of sports by addressing challenges, opportunities, and real-world examples of making sports inclusive. By adopting adaptive strategies, innovative approaches, and a change in mindset, sports can become accessible to all - creating not just participation but a stronger, more connected society.
Join the talk to discover how inclusion in sports can make a difference and why it should matter to everyone.
She is a former competitive synchronized swimmer and professionally trained ballet dancer. Motivated by her passion for movement, she decided to study sports science and later health science at the Technical University of Munich.
While working as a research assistant, she faced the challenges that prevent people with disabilities from participating in sports. This encouraged her to specialize in inclusive sports, researching how children with and without disabilities learn to swim together. She explored the attitudes of swimming instructors towards inclusion and identified the competencies required to create inclusive swimming courses.
Drawing on the determination and endurance she developed in competitive sports, Elena Reimchen is now dedicated to making sports accessible to everyone, regardless of physical and mental abilities. Her work focuses on creating equal opportunities for participation and social interaction through everyday sports, helping to foster a more inclusive society. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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