GEORGIAN NATIONAL WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAM PREPARING TO COMPETE IN THE 2024 PARIS PARALYMPICS WITH HELP FROM SCOTLAND’S ‘GLASGOW ROCKS’!

Mary E Chatwin

Monday, February 4

UK Ambassador Mr. Justin McKenzie Smith joined the practice session on 30 January in the Georgian Paralympic Sports Hall in Dighomi (photo: A. Scoffham)

Ambassador Smith, center r, surrounded by members of the Georgian and Scottish teams and next to Giorgi Akhmeteli, founder of “Accessible Environment for Everyone” (photo A. Scoffham)

STOP PRESS: The Ambassador of the UK to Georgia, Mr. Justin McKenzie Smith, stopped in during basketball practice on 30 January to encourage the Georgian players and meet the Glasgow, Scotland support team!

In Georgia, persons with disabilities are among the most disadvantaged of all citizens when it comes to their personal rights. Rarely are wheelchair users seen moving freely on city sidewalks or in public parks, unlike in other European countries. People in wheelchairs are often heroes—they are dealing with challenging physical conditions while they participate within the family and society. They battle against all odds for their right to live a full life. Many who live outside urban areas feel isolated. Yet now one great team, Glasgow Rocks, is stepping up to encourage Georgia’s team and offer an exciting and dynamic sport where youth can get involved!

Glascow Rocks players, coach and sports specialists have come to support the Georgian National Wheelchair Basketball team from January 27 to 31, giving their time to ensure that the Georgian team has a good start to compete in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. With their know-how for specialized equipment, intensive coaching and training and the encouragement it takes to go international, the Glasgow delegation plan to return to Georgia again in late Spring to organize a first Olympic training camp.

Thanks go to the good will of the Glasgow Rocks team members, and especially coach Gary Davidson and paralympian and wheelchair specialist, Colin Price. Hopefully Georgian sponsors, organizations and the public will come forward to get involved and take the national team to the top! Most of all, the Georgian Wheelchair Basketball Team hopes their own Government and the Ministries will become as enthusiastic as the European and the International Wheelchair Basketball Associations already are, which have already pledged backing to get the team started. Will Georgia—the Government and citizens—stand up and cheer for their own National Wheelchair Basketball team?

This initiative will bring a higher profile to make inclusion a reality in Georgia in social, professional and educational fields as well as in sports—thus the country will begin to fulfill its promises to implement the international agreements it has signed onto (e.g. the UN Declaration of the Rights of Disabled Persons). Children and youth (it’s a sport for both male and female players) are welcome to get involved and included—perhaps some will come forward to learn the sport and encourage Georgia’s dynamic National Wheelchair Basketball team!