President of the European Paralympic Committee John Petersson and his family visited the European Universities Games Zagreb – Rijeka 2016. Ratko Kovačić, president of the Croatian Paralympic Committee and vice president of the European Paralympic Committee joined in as well. They were greeted by EUG 2016 Director of Operations Besim Aliti, who met them in front the Faculty of Kinesiology.
‘As organizers, we are delighted and honored to have para athletes competing as equals for the first time at our Games,’ said Besim Aliti.
After receiving their temporary accreditation cards, Zrinko Čustonja, president of the EUG 2016, took them on a tour of the Athletes’ Village, presenting to the distinguished guests everything that organizers had done to make the athletes’ stay as pleasant as possible. They put special attention on the needs of athletes with disabilities.
The delegation visited the pavilions where the athletes with disabilities are accommodated, as well as the restaurants, which always offer a large selection of tasty food. They continued to the lounge bar Roko, where the president of the European Paralympic Committee expressed his delight with everything he had seen.
‘The organization is great; it’s obvious that everything was well planned, since everything is very close and convenient. Students with disabilities and we from the Committee are happy to be part of this great story,’ he said.
Ratko Kovačić explained the importance of including students with disabilities in the Games.
‘This is a historical event, as students with disabilities have for the first been included in a sporting competition of this magnitude. The effort they put in studying and playing sports is admirable. They are in a good mood and happy to be at the competition, and we’re very proud of them.’
The visit continued with a tour of Zagreb, and in the evening they will be giving out medals to the winners of the para table tennis tournament.
