Brno, June 23, 2024 - Brno has had a happy 13th edition of the Emil Open. Over 800 participants from 13 European countries arrived in Brno to compete in a total of seven sports. The next Games will take place on 25 and 29 June 2025.

Brno's sports venues welcomed young athletes with disabilities again this year. This time 829 participants from 13 European countries came to Brno for the Emil Open.

This year's edition, called #happy13, kicked off on Wednesday with the opening ceremony. Participants presented their teams under the flags of their respective countries in the presence of partners and ambassadors of the Games.

On the first day, there was also a Thank You Ceremony at the Wine Cup, which is traditionally organized for the partners of the Games by Markéta Vaňková, the Mayor of Brno, or the Charity Show "Eye to Eye," which is attended every year by a member of the Board of Directors of the Emil Foundation - Jan Kraus. The show opened the Vaňkovka Gallery festival for the second time - Vaňkovka Fest!

"When I see how many passionate people are at the Emil Open Games, how many volunteers are taking great care of everything and when I see the omnipresent joy not only of young athletes, I am proud that we are once again their general partner," summarized Jiří Herman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the municipal company Teplárny Brno, a.s.

The following two days after the opening day were dedicated to sports - on Thursday qualifying and on Friday final races. These took place in the Sports Complex of the VUT stadium under Palacký vrch, in the swimming pools Lužánky and Kraví hora, in the hall and gymnasiums of the Faculty of Sports Studies of Masaryk University.

Friday's medal ceremonies were attended by a number of public personalities who came to appreciate the efforts of young athletes. "A total of 151 sets of gold, silver and bronze medals were given out in 35 disciplines," reveals Vojtěch Kocůrek, vice-president of the organizing committee, adding: "however, the main goal is not only medals, but above all meeting together and inspiring children and young people to sport and an active lifestyle."

Another award on Friday was the conclusion of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the South Moravian Region and the organizing Emilova sportovní, z.s. It was signed directly at the sports ground by the Governor Jan Grolich and the President of Emil Open Pavel Zbožínek. "I am proud that the Emil Open, which is the largest event for young disabled athletes, is linked to South Moravia and we want to continue our support." Jan Grolich explained. "This is great news for the Emil Open and gives us the security of funding for the next period. We are very grateful and thankful to the South Moravian Region and the Governor," added Pavel Zbožínek.

Nine other regions supported the participation of their athletes in the Emil Open. The biggest supporter is the city of Brno, which has supported the Games since their inception.

250 volunteers from various companies, organizations, institutions, as well as, for example, schools, also participated in the event. "I would like to mention Atlas Copco (68 volunteers) and the Brno-Bystrc Gymnasium GYBY (40 volunteers). But of course, a big thank you goes to every volunteer who got involved this year and helped us organise amazing games," praises Eliška Thompsonová, volunteer coordinator.

With joy and gratitude for a successful year, we are already looking forward to the Emil Open 2025, which will take place from 25 to 29 June. We believe that once again we will be treated to unforgettable sporting performances, new friendships and inspiring stories. Together we will continue our mission to inspire, connect and support young athletes with disabilities. We look forward to seeing you next year in Brno!

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And why was this year's Emil Open held under the name #happy13?

Leaving aside the fact that some people might have been worried about the 13th and we wanted to allay them in this way, and that we did everything we could to make our athletes feel happy again, the 13th had another important meaning.

This is because the 13th edition of the Games took place during the Paralympic Year, the biggest celebration of Para sport and all those who have nominated themselves for the Paralympics and those who cheer for them.

And we wanted them to cheer with us! So we reached out to our partners and supporters to help us make our Games #happy13 and send the biggest kick of happiness with us to all our Paralympians going to Paris!

A number of them really got involved in the challenge and showed us on video what it looks like when they are really happy!

These videos, complete with the emotions of our participants, will now be edited and sent to all Paralympians in Paris!