Orihuela will host an event on April 21st to promote wheelchair football and foster inclusion

The Orihuela City Council announced this morning that the ‘A-Ball al Poble’ event, an inclusive sports project, will take place next Tuesday, April 21st, at 10:00 a.m. in the Bernardo Ruiz Pavilion. The press conference was attended by Councillors for Sports (Víctor Sigüenza), Social Welfare (Agustina Rodríguez), and Education (Vicente Pina), as well as project organiser Antonio Falcó and club players.

During his statement, the Councillor for Sports emphasised that the initiative is “a very special and unique initiative” that would introduce wheelchair football to Orihuela as a vehicle for inclusion, community development, and increasing awareness. Sigüenza noted that the Afric Sports Club promotes this programme in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Valencia’s UPV IN programme, which is supported by the Valencian Regional Government. In this regard, he pointed out that “at the Department of Sports, we firmly believe that sport should be for everyone, without barriers, and this project fits perfectly with the work we are promoting.”

The day will include a motivational talk, a practical session in which participants can try this adapted sport, and an exhibition match. “It’s not just about watching the sport, but about experiencing it and understanding the effort and technique behind wheelchair football,” the councillor said.

Furthermore, Sigüenza stated that the concept intends to extend beyond this event, supporting the future participation of persons with impairments in sports. “We want this initiative to be more than just a one-off event; we want it to create real opportunities for participation,” she said.

Antonio Falcó, the project organiser, explains that ‘A-Ball al Poble’ aims to bring wheelchair football and inclusive sports to all municipalities in the Valencian Community, particularly those that are difficult to reach. In this regard, he stated that the goal is to bring this sport closer to the public and create genuine opportunities for involvement.

Falcó explained that Orihuela was chosen as a strategic location to commence the initiative in the province of Alicante, allowing it to extend to neighbouring municipalities. He also stated that the day will be divided into three sections: the first aimed at people with disabilities and limited mobility, the second focused on students from educational centres with awareness-raising activities, and the third featuring an exhibition match to encourage attendance.

Finally, the City Council has asked all people to attend the celebration. The programme, which begins at 10:00 a.m. in the Bernardo Ruiz pavilion, is accessible to the public and aims to provide locals with an opportunity to learn more about wheelchair football while also participating in an inclusive sporting experience.