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The Municipality of Tirana continues to promote sports activities for children. In the spaces of the New Market, the Municipality of Tirana and Special Olympics Albania organized “Play in the Market”, inclusive group games for children with special needs, in the disciplines of football, basketball, volleyball, table tennis and athletics.
Mayor Erion Veliaj also attended to greet the attendees, who underlined that Tirana is the city of opportunities.
“Tirana, as the European Youth Capital, does not belong to some young people, it belongs to all young people! It is not for some children, it is for all children! It’s not just the center, it’s the whole city! The Tirana that I dream of is a comprehensive Tirana. The parents of these children have the biggest challenge, they have to spend time with them and bring them to such activities, so you have all my gratitude and all my respect for the wonderful work you do.” he said.
Veliaj emphasized that Albania has changed a lot in recent years and society has become less discriminatory.
He also remembered an early friend, Elidon, the Roma boy who, nine years ago, when he had just assumed the position of Minister of Social Welfare and Youth, accompanied him to the hospital to treat his broken leg.
“We are not perfect today, but Albania has changed in recent years. I remember, on my first day in the ministry, our hospitals refused to treat, or change the wound of a little Roma boy. On the first day, I took him with the ministry’s car, and at that time they said that I was doing it just for show. Here we are today, 9 years have passed, no one dares to discriminate against you because you look different, speak differently, behave differently. Today we raised the market. The question is: Are we where we need to be? I believe that we are not there yet and the fact that we want it to be better means that we have not given up”. Veliaj added further.
The Mayor underlined that thanks to the change in the state’s approach to such phenomena, now children with special needs are not discriminated against in receiving services in schools or hospitals.
About 80 children were activated in these activities, being educated with the values of sports. Also, this event helps in social-cultural diversity, education, and entertainment and inclusion as equals in society of children with special needs.
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