Paralympic Athletes Engage in Marine Activities with Ziv Ne'urim

Paralympic athletes, including "Swords of Iron" war wounded who have become elite athletes, participated in a marine activity day on Monday. This event marked the first collaboration between the Israeli Paralympic Sports Association and the Ziv Ne'urim association, supported by the Daniel Howard Foundation. The activities, held at Tel Aviv's Community Center for Sea Sports, featured accessible facilities for individuals with disabilities. Participants experienced wave surfing and stand-up paddleboarding, alongside lectures by Olympic surfer Lee Korzits and Dr. Osnat Pelis Doar, director of the Israeli Paralympic Sports Association's science unit. The event was attended by Nissim Sasportas, CEO of the association, and Dudi Wiener, acting chairman. Among the attendees was Taekwondo fighter Omer Bar'el, who lost an arm during the "Swords of Iron" war and recently won a silver medal in an international competition. Also present were three members of the road cycling team, "Swords of Iron" war wounded Daniel Kopilevitz, Ido Shemer, and Menachem Ben Khalifa, who represent Israel internationally. Visually impaired athletes Noam Larach and Ben Zellinger, young table tennis player Omer Gadot, kayak rower Mushka Cohen, climber Noga Toaff, and basketball player Nathan Buzana were also among the participants, representing the future of Paralympic sports.

Ziv Ne'urim, an organization founded by former members of Unit 13 to commemorate their fallen comrade Ziv Levi, has been active for over 26 years. It focuses on preventing youth dropout and empowering at-risk teenagers through a unique educational model that 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, reservists, and other populations needing a supportive environment, believing the sea can be a starting point for growth and rehabilitation. The Daniel Howard Foundation, named after Daniel Amichai Marcus, supports the Israeli Paralympic Sports Association, advocating for sports as a catalyst for social change, excellence, creativity, and innovation.