On World Autism Awareness Day, 2 April 2021, the Health Life Academy Association launched its European Mile campaign in Pula, Croatia, in connection with the Special Power League project. More than 50 participants, including children and youth, parents, trainers, persons with intellectual disabilities (PWID) and people working with PWID, started their started collecting miles towards a good cause by walking from the famous Roman amphitheatre located in Pula. 

The campaign was celebrated on World Autism Awareness Day in order to draw attention to the growing prevalence of this complex disorder. As part of the European Mile event, the participants collected more than two kilometres each (which they will convert to miles and donate on the official web page) by exploring a beautiful walking trail in the woods near the shore. 

The participants of the European Mile event in Pula were members of the Health Life Academy Association, SU "Veliko srce" from Koprivnica, the Association for Autism Pogled Nedelišće, School for children with disabilities Pula, the association "Sindrom Down 21 Split", Next Level Talents, IFK Maryland, Istarski pljočkarski savez (IPS), Association Latice, and Croatian football clubs (HNK Hajduk, NK Istra 1961, NK Slaven Belupo Koprivnica, NK Međimurje Čakovec). 

Because of the pandemic, the event was held on a smaller scale, respecting the recommendations of the epidemiological service and all relevant institutions and measures. The activities were adapted to the pandemic situation and, above all, took care of the health of the participants. 

The campaign in Pula is being implemented along with the project Special Power League – a sports league for children with disabilities. The project was established in 2018, initiated by the Health Life Academy Association and joined by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS), Croatian Handball Federation (HRS), Mateo Kovačić Foundation, Croatian Paralympic Association, SILab Association, Association ‘Veliko Srce’ from Koprivnica, Association ‘Pogled’ from Nedelišće, Association for Down Syndrome 21 Split, School of Education Pula, educational centres for children with disabilities from Rijeka, Osijek, Čakovec, Velika Gorica, as well as football and handball clubs from Croatia and abroad. The basic idea of the project is to motivate children with disabilities to actively integrate into society through sports activities. 

Traditional sports games held as part of European Mile promotion
Another event connected to the Pula European Mile campaign, the Special Power League event, hosted by NK Istra 1961, took place on 1-3 April 2021 on the sport field of Hotel Pula. The participants included HNK Hajduk Split Special Power Team, NK Istra 1961 Special Power Team, NŠ Međimurje Čakovec Special Power Team and NK Slaven Belupo Special Power Team. It was supported by young professional athletes from NK Istra 1961 and Next Level Talents who joined in an inclusive match where they played together with children and persons with disabilities. 

The participants of the event had a great time playing football together with the main goal of raising awareness of the importance of social inclusion through sports. This was noticed by parents, coaches, associates and others, so they were satisfied with the results of the event. 

At the end of the Special Power League event, director of A.T.I. d.o.o. Vesna Borisavljević, general secretary of Health Life Academy Association Dario Jagić, Next Level Talents coach Davor Dvanajščak, member of SZGP (Sports community of the city of Pula) Sandi Popović and NK Istra 1961 representative Goran Roce provided medals, trophies and other appropriate gifts to all participants. 

As part of the project, a professional seminar on the topic of social and sports integration of children with disabilities with current topics related to stress and emotions in sports was successfully completed. The symposium consisted of 4 lecturers: Monika Vandero:” Kako se nositi sa stresom i kontrolirati emocije (How to deal with stress and control emotions)”, Nevenka Popec Fuchs and Silvija Kovač:” Udruga za pomoć osobama s intelektualnim teškoćama Latice (Association for helping PWID Latice)”, Kristian Batelić:” W-Life projekt (W-Life project)”. 

To raise awareness about the European Mile, traditional sports games were held in cooperation with the association Europeenne De Jeux Et Sports Traditionnels (European Association for Traditional Games and Sports) and Istarski pljočkarski savez (IPS) with the aim of connecting people of different ages and people with disabilities through traditional values, culture and sports activities. The President of Istarski pljočkarski savez (IPS), Milivoj Pacenti demonstrated the Istrian traditional game called Pljočkanje, which is part of Croatia’s intangible cultural heritage in Europe and the world. 

At the end of the event, members of the Health Life Academy Association presented gifts to the participants. The participants had a great time in Pula and are very satisfied with the realisation of the event and the achieved results.

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