As a result of initiative steps taken by the mother of one of our students and on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3), the School’s Administration and the Physical Education Department conjointly arranged to have athletes with disabilities visit Athens College – Psychico College. The athletes - Antonis Pappas, Thanasis Aggelopoulos, Panagiota Maniatakou, Christos Koromilas, Apostolis Mpourlis and Nikos Diamantopoulos -, together with their coach Giorgos Gkountas, are members of the Iona Association which trains persons with special needs.  They compete in PanHellenic meets such as, swimming and triathlon events, as well as local meets such as, the 5km race in the Authentic Marathon of Athens that took place on Sunday, November 13, 2016.

The objective of this activity was to:

• Make students aware of diversity and to awaken their emotional sensibilities
• Motivate our students to trust their abilities and to move forward
• Introduce them to volunteerism and community service

The event was part of the Activities to Raise Awareness about Diversity: the fourth in a series of events that began in December 2014 at Bodossakeio School.  This year, the event took place on several occasions for different groups of students:  specifically, on December 1 for 6^th grade students of Athens College Elementary School and on November 7, 8 and 10, 2016 for 8^th and 9^th grade students of Athens College and Psychico College Junior High Schools.

Following the athletes’ speeches on each of these occasions, both students and guests engaged in sports activities.  They raced using a hand-driven, off-road go-kart (many children drove the go-kart) and competed in endurance track & field events in a go-kart or 3-wheel bicycle.  Furthermore, the children raced blindfolded in order to gain an understanding of the importance of assistants to athletes with disabilities.  Elementary School students, having first been advised about the rules of soccer for the blind, engaged in a match.  Junior High School students participated in a seated volleyball game in the indoor gymnasium.

The athletes received a warm reception from our youngsters.  Our students had an opportunity to meet and interact with athletes to whom they are grateful for the visit.