Laureus Alpino Project Launch
Schaffhausen, 4 February 2010
The Laureus Foundation Switzerland launched the Laureus Alpino ski sports project on Thursday 4 February. The starting signal was given in the Axalp ski resort in Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, in the presence of Laureus Ambassador and former Olympic snowboarding champion Gian Simmen and professional ski racer Michael Brügger (who is getting ready to participate in the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver). Both professional sportsmen visited the children at the Laureus Alpino Ski Camp, run in partnership with Plusport, to enable children with physical disabilities to take part in snow sports.
Michael Brügger and Gian Simmen both know what it means to make the most of your abilities and to strengthen them with willpower, strength and commitment. Their visit to the Laureus Alpino project allowed them to pass on their experience and enjoyment of snow sports to the younger generation.
The participants of the Laureus Alpino Ski Camp are 11-18-year-olds with physical disabilities. Some of the group take part in the Laureus Alpino ski races on normal skis, the other on skibobs specially made for seated ski sports. For more information on the project please visit: www.laureus.ch.
After warming up with Gian, Michael showed the children and young people the correct starting position for the giant slalom. For Michael Brügger, the visit to the project was a reminder of the start of his own career, when he took part in his first ski camp with an artificial leg (following amputation of his lower leg). ”I quickly realised how I could use sport to improve my quality of life and I wanted to pass on this experience to the younger generation”, said Michael Brügger, one of the close circle of favourites for a medal at the Paralympic Games in Vancouver. Gian, who was most impressed with the new Laureus Alpino project, said: “Projects such as these allow children and young people to focus on their abilities and to strengthen them in a targeted fashion.”
Kids skiing at Laureus Alpino
