(L-R): Laurent Deville; Pierrot Feltgen; Dan Kersch, Minister of Sports; Marc Feltgen; Robert Thillens; Credit: Ministry of sports

On Wednesday 30 January 2019, Luxembourg's Minister for Sports, Dan Kersch, met with representatives of Special Olympics Luxembourg (ALPAPS), a federation that this year celebrates its 40th anniversary and supports the inclusion by the sport, as well as representatives of the Luxembourg Paralympics Association.

The leaders of ALPAPS have shown excellent collaboration with many sports federations in the integration and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. It is proposed to provide specific training in this area as part of the training offered by the National School of Physical Education and Sports (ENEPS), under the authority of the Minister of Sports. One of the highlights of the year will be the participation of a strong delegation from ALPAPS at the Special Olympics World Games from 14 to 21 March 2019 in Abu Dhabi. The Sports Minister hailed the exemplary commitment of ALPAPS and offered his full support highlighting the potential of sport as a tool for social inclusion and vector of fulfilment and social recognition.

Also on Wednesday, during a second meeting, Minister Kersch met with representatives of the Luxembourg Paralympic Committee (LPC), which aims to ensure the development of sport for people with disabilities in Luxembourg. The LPC also fulfills the mission of National Paralympic Committee, in particular with the support of the sports elites and the integration of athletes with disabilities in the structures of the sports movement. In terms of integration and even inclusion, representatives of the LPC reported collaboration agreements with various sports federations. It was agreed to plan specific training in this area as part of the training for coaches at the National School of Physical Education and Sports (ENEPS) which is under the Ministry of Sports. The Minister affirmed his commitment to support, to the greatest extent possible, the elite athletes of the LPC in their preparation for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.