V4 Winter Games Emil Open
The V4 Winter Games became the only project of its kind in the Czech Republic or perhaps even in Central Europe. The aim is to bring young beginners or people with disabilities together who have never played any sport before.
Emil Open Games managed to connect 4 organizations from all V4 countries, 40 athletes, and the organizing team and volunteers almost 100 people, who together broke down the imaginary barriers of society and included young people with disabilities among their equals, both on the sports and personal level.
The more skilled athletes were able to inspire and motivate the beginners and showed them that sports can help them to integrate into the community and give them goals in life to pursue. Without the project, many athletes would not be able to go to any winter sports event because they could not afford the costs associated with winter sports. Therefore, many athletes were exposed for the first time to sports such as cross-country and downhill skiing or snowshoeing. From this experience, these young disabled athletes motivated the public by achieving something in sports that many able-bodied people would not be able to do.
As this was the pilot year, overall, it was a well-organized and successful project with an experienced organizing team. After the first successful edition of the V4 Winter Games, the project consortium would like to organize a second edition of the event next year and thus establish it as a tradition.
