Brno, 5th of April, 2024
A delegation of the Croatian Parataekwondo Federation came to Brno to continue the preparation of thelaunch of combat sports at the 13th European Games for the Disabled Emil Open along with the organizers ofthe Emil Open and the Faculty of Sports Studies of Masaryk University. The meeting was also accompanied by Michal Chládek, Honorary Consul of Croatia, who interpreted the support of Her Excellency Mrs. Ljiljana PANCIROV, Ambassadress of the Republic of Croatia.
Preparation of the 13th edition of the European Games for the Disabled Emil Open is in full progress and theorganizing association Emilova sportovní is preparing a variety of innovations for this year's edition. One of them isthe introduction of combat sports. "Last year we were contacted by the new Honorary Consul of the Republic ofCroatia, Michal Chládek, with an offer of Czech-Croatian cooperation and after several debates he then connected uswith the Croatian Federation of Parataekwondo," says Pavel Zbožínek, President of the Emil Open and continues: "every year during the games, we used to walk around the grappling gym at the faculty and think how great it wouldbe to bring these sports to the Emil Open. We're glad our wish came true."
The Emil Open brings together children and young people with all types of disabilities, aged 10 to 26, to compete in athletics, swimming, table tennis, boccia, bocce, archery, cycling and throwing. This year, there will also be camps forbeginners in team sports such as wheelchair basketball.
This is the first time that combat sports will be added to this year's list of sports. The Croatian partner will be in charge of it in a demonstration form. Its delegation came to Brno consisting of Martina Peranović - Director and Co-founder of the Croatian Parataekwondo Federation, Kristijan Škravan - President of the Croatian ParataekwondoFederation, Borna Soro - Secretary General, Matija Soro - Head Coach of the Croatian National ParataekwondoTeam, Viktorija Mihalić - Coach, Referee and Sports Assistant, Robert Vindiš - Advisor and Coordinator.
"We are glad that our work and results have caught the attention of our friends in Brno and that we quickly foundcommon ground," says Kristijan Škravan, President of the Croatian Para-Taekwondo Federation.
Martina Peranovic, who is the author of the world's first book Introduction to Para Taekwondo, a recognized expert and a respected person not only in Taekwondo - inducted into the Taekwondo Hall of Fame (2019), the Women ofInfluence (2020) award adds: "we are honored to have been approached for cooperation, we have a lot of experienceto share and we are happy to be at the birth of a long-term cooperation, both with the Emil Foundation, the organizerof the Games, and with potential founders of parataekwondo clubs in the Czech Republic. We believe that by expanding the games to include combat sports, the games will be enriched and together we will support thedevelopment of parataekwondo in the Czech Republic and Europe."
The sports guarantee of the Emil Open is the Faculty of Sports Studies of Masaryk University. Except for the sports ofboccia and swimming, all sport directors are faculty teachers. Among others, the meeting was attended by the deanPhDr. Jan Cacek, Ph.D., the head of the Department of Sports Performance and Diagnostics PaedDr. Michal Hrubý, PhD, or the assistant teacher and chairwoman of the World Karate Federation's parakarate commission Mgr. Dušan Augustovičová, PhD. The presentation on the topic "Issues of sports classifications in karate and parakarate" wasprepared for the attendees. This was followed by a short presentation video of the parataekwondo federation and thewords of the organizers of the Emil Open about the involvement of a new demonstration sport in the games with theinterest in creating a new year-round sporting opportunity.
"In case of interest of the Emil Open participants, we would like to establish a new section of combat sports in Brno under the leadership of our colleagues from the faculty," says Vojtěch Kocůrek, a graduate of the faculty and vice-president of the Emil Open.
The meeting was also commented by the Honorary Consul of Croatia in the Czech Republic Michal Chládek: "I amglad that the idea of cooperation in the field of sports for the disabled met with such a response and we could meet together today to confirm this cooperation. The European Disabled Youth Games are a traditional event in Brno, which is still developing and offers children and young people from all over Europe the opportunity to enjoy sport. And I am very happy to have been able to help its growth through this connection."
The message of the Ambassadress of the Republic of Croatia to the Czech Republic, Her Excellency Mrs. Ljiljana Pancirov, interpreted by the Honorary Consul, was also a nice encouragement. The organizers sent an invitation to theAmbassadress to the opening of the Emil Open in June.
Friday's official programme ended at the Brno City Hall. There they were welcomed by Councillor for Sport Tomáš Aberl. "I am happy that the Emil Open is developing in this way and that the Croatian partners are bringing a newsport to this year's edition. The effort to motivate children and young people to take up sport in general is importantand I welcome and support any opportunity to expand this offer."
The City of Brno has again this year supported this important sporting and social event for young people withdisabilities from all over Europe with an amount of CZK 2 million.
The visit of the Croatian team continued on Saturday, when it was devoted to practical demonstrations, consultationsand preparation of the concrete form of their participation in the 13th edition of the Emil Open..
Contact for media:
Pavel Zbožínek
Prezident Emil Open
+420 602 720 518
