On 28 September 2023, the second year of the Inclusive Sports Instructor specialisation of the Hungarian University of Sports Science started with the opening ceremony. The event was attended by Ákos Cserny, vice Rector of the University, Lajos Mocsai, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University, Luca Ekler, Paralympic champion athlete and coordinator of the course, Csaba Sós, the captain of the Hungarian national swimming team, the members of the Hungarian parakarate national team preparing for the world championships, representatives of the Hungarian Paralympic Committee and the sponsoring Allianz Hungária Zrt., as well as the 18 students starting their studies this academic year.
In the spirit of inclusion, the aim of the course is to accept and value the diversity and difference of athletes and sports professionals, thus ensuring equal opportunities in sport and society. The students who have been accepted for the two semester, practice-oriented course come from a diverse range of professional backgrounds: coaches, sports economists, special education teacher, mental health professionals and international relations experts are among the new class. ’At the Hungarian University of Sports Science, it is also possible to acquire knowledge about disabled sports in traditional physical education and coaching courses, while this training is the first – and until nowadays unique – in Hungary, which is exclusively about inclusive sports teaching’ – emphasised László Szabó, President of the Hungarian Paralympic Committee.
Based on the experience of the first grade, which included such outstanding students as world championship bronze medallist para triathlete Zsófia Lengyel, students can gain useful knowledge not only in competitive parasport but also in recreational sport and junior team education. The fromer students’ experience showed that the previous years of the course, involving disabled and non-disabled sports professionals, already helped to promote inclusion. The second year training plan is also the result of the joint work of the Hungarian University of Sports Science, the Hungarian Paralympic Committee and the Hungarian Special Olympics Association, providing practical and theoretical knowledge for all disability branches.
This year’s class also includes former Paralympians. ’It was my constant desire to learn and improve that brought me to this specialised course. I come mainly from the field of parasport, but I would also like to learn about sports education for other disability branches’, said Réka Kovács-Kézdi, a former Paralympic swimmer and instructor at the Budapest-based ’Mozgasjavito’ Elementary School. The quality of the training – in addition to the qualified teaching staff – is ensured by the coordinator of the course, Luca Ekler Paralympic, world and European champion athlete.
In August 2023, the Hungarian Paralympic Committee – with the support of Allianz Hungária Zrt. insurance company – announced a scholarship programme for the new class, thanks to which 15 students will be able to start their studies – in part or in full – with a significant financial support this year.
Enikő Kónya-Prépost, Senior Marketing Manager of Allianz Hungária Zrt. said, ’diversity and inclusion are among the core values of our company, so it is a great pleasure for us to support such an important sensitising training for the second year in a row, thus helping the social inclusion and integration of people with disabilities. As a committed supporter of sport and as a partner of the Paralympic movement and the Hungarian Paralympic Committee, we are particularly proud of our brand ambassador, Luca Ekler, for her professionalism in this role, as well.’