Athletes train for 2009 Ability Challenge

The 2009 Ability Challenge will see the participation of a diverse team of athletes.

This year, the Challenge will take place at Val di Sole, a valley in the northern part of Trentino Alto Adige, between September 6 and 13.

Participants will enjoy a series of activities such as whitewater rafting, trekking and off-road biking (custom re-worked bikes will be provided for athletes with disabilities).

The participants come from all walks of life, including soldiers, bank employees, university students, technicians and health inspectors, to name a few.

Each applicant will have to undertake a series of rigorous indoor and outdoor weekly training sessions, after which they will be passed fit enough to take part in the challenge.

The training started last month, under the supervision of qualified personnel from the IASIS Wellbeing and Fitness Centre in Marsascala.

In the meantime, participants have been raising funds to cover participation costs.

Wherever it went, the training party attracted the attention of the public, particularly due to the special hand bikes and trikes used by participants with disabilities.

John, a participant who has spina bifida, gave this comment about the Ability Challenge: "I had not trained for a whole year, so I was sure that the training would have been particularly hard for me. My muscles were weak and I had to learn again how to fully control my breathing during the exercises.

"I am therefore working hard at the Inspire gym to improve both my strength and cardio. The training is also helping me to better control my balancing."

John missed out on last year's Ability Challenge and he is looking forward to participating in this year's event.

The Ability Challenge by Inspire (The Eden and Razzett Foundation) is organised to raise awareness about people with disabilities and as another exciting way of creating inclusion in sport activities.