Care centre residents compete at inclusive sports festival

More than 150 residents of social care centres in Latvia and Lithuania gathered in Vilce, Jelgava municipality, for the “Visiting the Hare” sports festival, LSM reported, citing Zemgales Regional Television.

The event offers participants competitions in several disciplines as well as a chance to meet friends from other care centres. Many look forward to the festival throughout the year.

“These emotions, believe it or not, remain for several years, because our clients remember even the smallest details,” said Linda Belte-Svētiņa, a representative of the Liepāja branch of the Kurzeme State Social Care Centre.

The sports festival began in 2012 as an initiative by three employees and has grown into an event featuring 20 teams from Latvia and Lithuania.

Organisers say the festival aims to promote an inclusive society. Activities are adapted to the individual abilities and needs of people with intellectual disabilities and other forms of disability, said Kristaps Keišs, director of the Zemgale State Social Care Centre.

Katrīna Sarkane, a physiotherapist at Ģintermuiža Hospital, said such events create a sense of belonging, strengthen self-confidence and help participants believe in themselves and their abilities.

More than 3,000 people with severe and very severe intellectual disabilities live in state social care centres in Latvia. Jelgava municipality said it was also important to develop services for people with intellectual disabilities who live with their families, providing daily support to their relatives.