From Independence of the Country to My Independence
May 26, which is the Independence Day of Georgia a sports and cultural event was held near Heroes Square, on the highway connecting Vake and Saburtalo districts of Tbilisi. The sports competitions involved 38 wheelchair-user participants and about 150 people as audience.
The event under the name “Accessible Environment – Independent Person” aimed to popularize disabled sports and independent living methods, empower persons with disabilities through promoting the idea of accessible environment and raise public awareness about disability and equal opportunities. Such events will not be held often. On June 14, National Day of Persons with Disabilities, the 3rd Exhibition Fair Forum on disability will be conducted which will be another attempt to promote independent living and equal rights of PWD.
The May 26 event was supported by Tbilisi City Hall and was organized by the Movement for Accessible Environment, Coalition for Independent Living and Georgian Paralympic Committee. The sponsors included: Beeline Company, "Qvartziti", "Madneuli", Gori Child Food Cannery "Kula", TAV GEORGIA, Construction Company MSM Group, Alcohol Drinks Company "Askaneli", Insurance Company "Partner" and "Kikala Studio TV". In association with Georgian Public Broadcasting and Journalists Union "Educational Center Gelati".
Competitions were held in disciplines such as archery, wheelchair race and arm-wrestling.