Marc Fleuret, president of the Indre Departmental Council since July 2021, places the development of disabled sports at the heart of his priorities. During an interview, he discusses current initiatives and shares his vision to make sport more accessible to people with disabilities.
What are the main axes of your commitment to disabled sports in Indre?
Our strategy is based on three major axes. First of all, we help clubs to create parasport or adapted sections thanks to specific funding. Then, we support practitioners by paying for their first sports license to encourage their integration into a club. Finally, an agreement with the French Paralympic Athletes Committee allows us to train educators in welcoming disabled athletes.
What are the main challenges encountered?
Transportation remains a major challenge. In rural areas, journeys to training, especially in the evening, are complicated due to a lack of suitable public transport. We also need to communicate better: many are unaware of the existence of adapted practices such as wheelchair basketball or sports shooting for the blind.
“My dream is that every disabled person can play the sport of their choice”
What actions should be strengthened in the years to come?
It is crucial to continue the training of educators so that each disabled person freely chooses their discipline. For example, a blind person can practice judo in an able-bodied club without major adaptation, but other sports, such as wheelchair basketball, require specific sections, which is more complex to organize.
What is your long-term vision for disabled sports in Indre?
My dream is that any disabled person can practice the sport of their choice close to home, without obstacles. This requires developing infrastructure, adapting transport and encouraging real inclusion. We must also draw inspiration from local figures, like Elodie Vachet in table tennis, to show that anything is possible.
With an ambitious policy and collective work, Marc Fleuret aims to make Indre an exemplary territory in terms of inclusive sport, allowing everyone to reach their full potential.
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