With joy and great emotion, the sports meeting: “Juntos por la Inclusión 2024” concluded in Antofagasta. For three days, delegations from the Teletón institutes of Arica, Iquique, Calama, Atacama, Coquimbo, Santiago, Valparaíso, and Antofagasta participated in sports competitions, recreational, and educational activities.
At the closing of the event, hosted by the Teletón Institute of Antofagasta, each participating delegation was recognized, and medals were awarded to all the athletes who competed, celebrating both their achievements and their spirit of camaraderie, empathy, and effort.
Sebastián Azares, director of Teletón Antofagasta, gave a positive assessment of this efficient sports activity carried out in conjunction with the Luksic Foundation. “We are very happy to have the opportunity to host this great event, which has been a significant challenge for the entire Teletón Antofagasta team. However, we put all our professionalism and, above all, a lot of love to make this a pleasant and meaningful meeting for the entire community that visited us from Santiago to Arica,” he commented.
This meeting aimed to promote inclusion and, through physical activity, contribute to the personal development by providing tools and socio-emotional skills that transform lives.
Rosario Donoso, director of the Sports area of the Luksic Foundation, commented on the importance of creating inclusive spaces in educational establishments. “It has been very exciting to be here, at the Teletón Institute of Antofagasta, participating in this sports festival, where we have closely witnessed the passion and dedication of each athlete and their families, who have shown us that nothing is impossible, that with support and hard work, extraordinary things can be achieved,” she added.
Meanwhile, Cristián Cherif, national coordinator of the Adaptive Exercise and Sports Unit of Teletón, also highlighted the value of sports as a tool for rehabilitation, social integration, and the development of children and young people. “This meeting gives them the opportunity to get to know and socialize with each other, which significantly boosts their self-esteem. Even among families, conversations arise that help create bonds. I assure you that many participants will leave here wanting to continue engaging in physical activity. They will go to their schools and tell their teachers that they can be included in sports,” explained Cherif.
Paralympic flag bearer and three-time para table tennis champion, Chile’s representative at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Tamara Leonelli, was one of the star guests at the event, sharing her life story from the Teletón gym to the Olympic podiums with the young athletes as motivation.
“We still don’t fully understand people with disabilities, how to help them or how to incorporate them into society, and for me, sports were that: a way to be part of society and to be seen as equal. Currently, I am a professional table tennis player, and I finally see disability as a friend and not an enemy,” agreed the para table tennis player.
In the same vein, Sebastián Arancibia, professor of the Adaptive Exercise and Sports Unit of Teletón Antofagasta, highlighted the meeting as a great opportunity for participation for both the team and the children and young people who are served daily.
“It created a meeting point where we could receive more delegations, showcasing part of the work we do in each institute and how each one, from their responsibilities and functions, contributes a fundamental piece,” explained Professor Arancibia.
Evangelina del Canto, an athlete who traveled from the Teletón Institute in Valparaíso, added that she would repeat this type of activity. “I came to represent the table tennis team, but here I had the opportunity to play 3×3 wheelchair basketball, and I liked it. I also met many people from different cities,” she commented.
The event established Antofagasta as a hub of adaptive sports in the country and also left a legacy of inclusion and personal development in the more than 170 people who attended the meeting.
The successful organization of this event in Antofagasta reinforces the commitment of Teletón and the Luksic Foundation to sports and social inclusion. Both institutions will seek to continue promoting sports as a platform for training, rehabilitation, and inclusion in other regions of the country.
