The biggest sport in Sweden for handicapped people is Boccia. But even if it's a big sport, the youth do not choose it. Are they doing something about it to make more people interested?

The Paralympic Games have just finished in Athen. Many people with functional disability from all around the world have fought for their country. Sweden took 21 medals which of eight goldmedals. Three of the goldmedalists from Sweden were Irene Slättgren in “dressage”, Sandra Eriksson in 50 meter swimming and Jonas Jacobsson in shooting.
- I don't dare to believe that I could win. But it feels very exiting, said Irene to the Nerikes Allehanda.
The laying shooting specialist Jonas Jacobsson have taken four goldmedals in this Paralympic Game. He have also won in freerifle.

A popular sport from Italy

What do the handicapped people in Örnsköldsvik do if they want to have activities? Boccia is a popular sport from Italy for handicapped people. You can resemble it with the sport Boule and curling. You have 6 balls to each teams and 2 balls to each person and a white ball that you are trying to come as close as possible to. You got points for the balls that are closest to the white ball. Boccia is played outdoor in the summer and indoor in the winter, but where's the young people?

Franz Schwarz is one of the leaders in the Örnsköldsvik Boccia Club and he has performed the sport for 30 years and has even a son who play it who has a handicap because he is intellectually handicapped. Much have not changed in those years. The youth have not been interested in it. If it's because lack of knowledge or leaders, nobody knows.

Nothing for the youth

About 20-25 persons perform the sport in Örnsköldsvik. The youngest is a 30 year old woman, so you could see that Boccia needs new fresh blood. The Boccia club has started a training to interest the young people to start with the Boccia game. They have arranged days there young people could try the sport. They also have some covermeeting to get members. Let's see if something is happen if we will have young Boccia-people in the future.
The boccia club of Örnsköldsvik do some trips sometimes, but not too often because they have to pay the rent for all the activities if they need a bus or something. But they compete in North Sweden Open in Trondheim, Östersund and Sundsvall. They also compete in Swedish championship and district championship two times a year. They got some medals and in the latest Swedish championship in Ånge the boccia club have got three goldmedalists. They don't go on any international games.

More sports in Örnsköldsvik

We have more sports for handicapped people in Örnsköldsvik too. For example curling, and it is playing inside on a carpet with special rocks.
The fun sport Bowling is even played in the little town of Örnsköldsvik and if you don't like bowling you could go skiing or swimming.
Earlier they had a floorball-section, but now there´s shortage of leaders.
Do you have a sport like this in your country?


© 1997-2004 Freeway
Writers: Katharina Lindström (K_l_87@hotmail.com) and Simon Parkman (sparkman87@hotmail.com) HTML by: Ambjörn Andersson (te05-48@park.se).