Paralympic Athletes Engage in Marine Activities with Ziv Neourim
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Paralympic athletes, including war wounded, participated in a marine sports day.
- The event was a collaboration between Ziv Neourim and the Israeli Paralympic Sports Association.
- Activities included surfing, paddleboarding, and lectures by prominent figures.
- The initiative aims to empower participants through marine activities and sports.
- Ziv Neourim has a long history of working with at-risk youth and expanded programs.
Paralympic athletes, including "Swords of Iron" war wounded who have become elite athletes, participated in a day of marine activities and learning on Monday. This event marked the first collaboration between the Israeli Paralympic Sports Association and the Ziv Neourim association, supported by the Daniel Howard Foundation. The activities took place at the Community Center for Marine Sports in Tel Aviv, which features an accessible beach.
Participants experienced wave surfing and stand-up paddleboarding, led by Ziv Neourim. The day also included lectures by Olympic surfer and world champion Lee Korzits, and Dr. Osnat Pelis Doar, Director of the Unit for Science, Innovation and Technology at the Israeli Paralympic Sports Association. The event was attended by Nissim Sasportas, CEO of the Association, and Dudi Winerb, Acting Chairman.
Among the attendees was Taekwondo fighter Omer Bar'el, who sustained severe injuries during the "Swords of Iron" war and lost an arm. Bar'el, a former Israeli Judo champion who deferred elite athlete status for combat service, recently won a silver medal in an international competition and is set to compete in the World Championships in November. Also present were three members of the road cycling team, "Swords of Iron" wounded: Daniel Kopilevitz, Ido Shemer, and Menachem Ben Khalifa, who already represent Israel internationally. Other participants included visually impaired athletes Noam Laroch and Ben Zelinger, young table tennis player Omer Gadot, kayaker Mushka Cohen, climber Noga Toaff, and basketball player Nathan Buzana, representing the future of Paralympic sports.
Ziv Neourim, an organization founded by former members of the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit, has been operating for over 26 years to prevent youth dropout and empower at-risk teenagers. Their unique educational model combines challenging marine activities with deep educational and value-based processes. The organization has expanded its programs to include evacuee families, bereaved families, individuals with post-traumatic stress from military service, and reservists, believing the sea can be a starting point for growth and recovery.
The Daniel Howard Foundation, a philanthropic fund, has long supported the Israeli Paralympic Sports Association, believing in sports' power to drive social change and encourage excellence.
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