Children in Motion: Together is Better

A year and a half ago parents of 10-year-old Vlad and Veronika wouldn’t have believed that their twins, who have cerebral palsy, would both be forwards on one of St. Petersburg’s children’s sledge hockey teams. They are the only brother and sister on the same team in the league. 

They found out about sledge hockey and other Paralympic sports when they attended inclusive sports activities, organized byPerspektiva as part of its project “Children in Motion. Together is Better.”  For the first time, Vlad and Veronika met disabled athletes. They never imagined it was possible for someone in a wheelchair to be so fast and so agile. The kids realized they could play sports too and chose sledge hockey.  They also went with other kids to the Confederation Cup soccer match. The stadium was fully accessible and for the first time they watched football with their peers.

 Sledge hockey is a contact sport that is practiced and played in the cold, and kids get bruises and pulled muscles. At first, the twins’ mother, Elena, was worried how her children, who have developmental challenges and frequently catch colds, would handle the tough training. But she said that, “When the children began to practice, they got noticeably stronger. We don’t remember what colds are. The twins are more focused, they are doing better in school and have learned how to plan their free time better. Life is a lot more exciting! They’ve got new friends in other cities. Sledge hockey isn’t just a sport — it’s spending time with other children, traveling, and holidays.”

Sledge hockey has helped Vlad and Veronika to believe in themselves. They are no longer frightened, unsure of themselves or shy. They’ve learned how to be team players, how to be real friends and feel like equals with their peers.