Abilympics

The First International Abilympics was held on 21 to 23 October 1981, in honor of the International Year of Disabled Persons, held by the United Nations (UN), in Tokyo, Japan. The host was the Japanese Organizing Committee of International Abilympics. Opening and closing ceremonies were held at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. The Championship gathered 304 contestants from 49 countries/regions of the world. The Championship held in 17 skill categories.

The Second International Abilympics, which was held on 1 to 5 October 1985 in Bogota, Colombia, was hosted by the Colombian Organizing Committee of International Abilympics. A special venue was built to hold the opening and closing ceremonies. The Championship gathered 281 people from 47 countries/regions of the world in 12 competencies.

In August 1989, Hong Kong hosted the Third International Abilympics, organized by the Hong Kong Joint Council for People with Physical and Mental Disabilities. The Championship was attended by 497 contestants from 37 countries/regions of the world. The motto was "Equality through participation". Opening and closing ceremonies were held at the Sha Tin Town Hall.

The Fourth International Abilympics was held in Perth, Australia on 1 to 5 September 1995. Opening and closing ceremonies were held at the Perth Entertainment Centre. The Championship was held with the participation of 412 contestants from 25 countries/regions in 37 competences under the motto: "A world working together." The Championship was hosted by the Australian Abilympics Association, Inc.

The Czech Association of Abilympics was the host of the Fifth International Abilympics, which took place in Prague in August 2000. A special venue was built to hold the opening and closing ceremonies of the Championship. The Championship was attended by 375 contestants from 21 countries/regions that competed in 46 competences. The event was held under the motto: "The first International Abilympics in Europe."

The Sixth International Abilympics was held in New Delhi, India, on 23 to 29 November 2003. A special venue was built to hold the opening and closing ceremonies of the Championship. The Championship was held with the participation of 424 contestants from 23 countries/regions, competing in 44 competences. The motto was: "We can, we will." The Championship was hosted by the National Association of Abilympics of India.

The Seventh International Abilympics was held in November 2007 in Shizuoka, Japan, with the participation of 23 countries/regions. 365 contestants competed in 27 competences. The motto of the Championship was the phrase: "Brilliant skills, shining individuals realizing a society for all". The host was the Organizing Committee of the International Festival of Professional Excellence. Opening and closing ceremonies were held at the Granship Conference and Arts Centre.

The Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities (KEAD) hosted the Eighth International Abilympics in Seoul, South Korea in September 2011. 447 contestants from 36 countries/regions competed in 36 competencies. The motto was: "Unlimited challenge to the world". Opening and closing ceremonies were held in the Olympic Hall.

In 2016, the city of Bordeaux, France, hosted the Ninth International Abilympics on 23 to 27 March. The event was organized by Abilympics France. The Championship was attended by 465 contestants from 31 countries/regions in 50 competences. The motto of the Championship was the phrase: "Common skills, uncommon people". A special venue was constructed to hold the opening and closing ceremonies of the championship.

In 2019, the Russian Federation won the right to become the host of the Tenth International Abilympics. Pursuant to the decision of the Organizing Committee of the Tenth International Abilympics will be held in Moscow in May 2022. In preparation for the Championship, the Abilympics National Centre of the Russian Federation created accounts on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WeChat in English and Chinese. Contestants of the Championship will compete in 55 skill competences:

Presentational Abilympics was held on 7 December 2014. Students of secondary-level vocational educational facilities took part in the Championship. 72 contestants competed in 18 professional competences.

In November 2014, the Governing Council was established in Russia to implement the International Abilympics movement, which included the top managers of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf, the All-Russian Society of the Blind, the All-Russian Society of the People with Disabilities, the Russian Psychiatrists Club, the Foundation Education to Society, and other reputable organizations supporting people with disabilities in the Russian Federation.

The First National Abilympics in Russia took place on 4 to 6 December 2015 at the Crocus Expo International Exhibition Centre.

The First National Abilympics in Russia was attended by 295 contestants in 30 professional skills categories from 29 Russian regions. The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Andrei Vorobyov, Moscow Region Governor, Mr. Colin Allen, President of the World Federation of the Deaf, Ms. Alexandra Levitskaya, Advisor to the President of Russia, many foreign guests from among experts in the area of training and employment of people with disabilities, representatives of federal authorities, the education community and academia, deputies of the State Duma, public figures, large employers and representatives of such Russian public organizations as All-Russia Association of the Blind, All-Russia Society of the Deaf, and All-Russia Society of the People with Disabilities.[11]

The Second National Abilympics was held on 18 to 19 November 2016 in Moscow in the 69th Pavilion of VDNKh (the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy) in Moscow.

The Second National Abilympics was attended by 502 contestants from 61 Russian regions (including 55 schoolchildren, 359 students, 88 young professionals).

Breakdown of contestants by type of disability: 39% had visual impairment, 25% hearing impairment, 10% musculoskeletal disorders, 15% mental disorder, and 11% of contestants had a disability caused by other diseases.

The Championship was held in 48 skill categories for students and young professionals, as well as 11 skill categories for schoolchildren with disabilities. More than 300 volunteers were involved in the work of the National Abilympics. Over 6,000 guests and spectators attended the National Abilympics for two days.

In the medal count the Moscow team became an absolute winner of the Second National Abilympics, second place was awarded to the team of the Moscow Region, the third place was shared by teams of the Samara and Kostroma regions.[12]

The following conferences were held on the sidelines of the Second National Abilympics business program:

• All-Russian Research-to-Practice Conference on Developing the system of occupational guidance and motivation of people with disabilities to obtain vocational occupations through the organization of a system of competitions in professional skills;
• Research-to-Practice conference of the Russian national public organization of persons with disabilities named All-Russia Association of the Blind on the subject "Competitions in professional skills as a tool for professional guidance and employment of visually impaired people: Russian and international experience".

Using the venue of the National Abilympics, federal executive bodies held panel discussions and meetings of working groups on the following issues:

• Development of inclusive vocational education and Abilympics volunteer movement (Russian Ministry of Education and Science);
• Implementation of interagency liaison practices in the organization of professional guidance and employment promotion for people with disabilities (Russian Ministry of Labour and Social Protection);
• Sociocultural adaptation and creation of conditions for the participation of people with disabilities in the public cultural life (Russian Ministry of Culture);
• Scale-up of manufacturing of products for persons with disabilities and elderly people (Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade).

The Third National Abilympics was held in Moscow on 1 to 3 December 2017, in facilities of the 69th Pavilion of the VDNKh and 5 additional venues: Russian State Social University (RSSU), Medical College No. 5, Educational Complex of the Stolitsa Urban Development Center, Ovchinnikov Polytechnic College, and Technological College No. 21. The official closing ceremony of the Championship was held in the Pillar Hall of the House of Unions.

Championship and business program were held on 1 and 2 December. The Championship was attended by 890 participants from 73 Russian regions, of which 707 competed in the category of "students" and "professionals" in 67 skill categories, including 490 secondary level vocational students, 49 university students, 139 professionals and 29 students of additional vocational education programs, 146 people in the category of "schoolchildren" in 20 skill categories. 37 contestants competed in presentation competences, including 12 schoolchildren, 20 secondary level vocational students, 2 professionals, 3 students of additional vocational education programs.

Total breakdown of contestants by type of disability: 29% had hearing impairment, 28% somatic diseases, 18% mental disorders, 14% musculoskeletal disorders, 11% visual impairment.

The Championship was evaluated by 623 judges, including 48 independent experts from employers. Volunteer support was provided by about 400 volunteers.

All-Russian research-to-practice conferences, panel discussions, meetings, and workshops were organized on the sidelines of the Third National Abilympics. The exhibition and interactive program presented modern technical means of rehabilitation and assistive educational technologies of Russian manufacturers.

The Career Fair was actively functioning, contestants' meetings with employers were organized, a large number of meetings were held with representatives of companies ready to hire people with disabilities, and moreover, trade network practices on organizing work stations and forging inclusion in the team were introduced.

Winners of the National Abilympics amounted to 257 people (of which 59 prize-winners were schoolchildren) from 55 Russian regions. The number of contestants winning first place was 88 people, second place – 86, third place 83. The leaders of the overall medal count were Moscow – 114 medals, Krasnoyarsk region – 11 medals, Kursk and Novosibirsk region – 6 medals, Penza and Chelyabinsk regions – 5 medals.

In terms of the number of gold medals, the leader was Moscow – 46 medals, Kursk region – 4 medals, Krasnoyarsk region – 3 medals.[13]

The Fourth National Abilympics was held on 20 to 23 November 2018 in Moscow. The venues were Hall A of the 75th Pavilion of the VDNKh (area 14,600 sq.m) and 6 additional ones: RSSU, Panov College of Modern Technologies, Capital College of Industry and Hospitality.

Teams from 84 Russian regions took part in the Fourth National Abilympics. Teams from the Jewish Autonomous Region did not participate due to lack of funding, and from the Chukotka Autonomous Region due to the fact that the regional championship was not held there.

The Championship was held in 57 basic competences and 16 presentation competences. Facilities of the 75th Pavilion of the VDNKh hosted 35 basic competences, as well as 16 presentation ones, zones for the contestants' business program, master classes, career fair, recreation areas and food courts, the area of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Championship, lecture halls. Competitions in 22 skill categories with complex equipment (Welding, Turning Work on CNC Machines, Mechanical Fitting, Dry Construction and Plastering, Paintwork) were held at additional sites.

The Championship was attended by 1,157 contestants in 57 basic competences, including 186 professionals (16.0%), 733 students (63.4%), 238 schoolchildren (20.6%) – all from 14 to 65 years old. 94 contestants participated in 16 presentation competences. Among the competitors, 12% of contestants had visual impairment, 26% somatic diseases, 24% hearing impairment, 17% musculoskeletal disorders.

The judging was provided by 486 judges, including 53 independent experts from employers.

Winners were awarded 365 medals, including 136 gold, 124 silver, 105 bronze. In the overall medal count, the first place was taken by the city of Moscow (87 medals), second place – by Republic of Bashkortostan (22 medals), third place – by the Republic of Tatarstan (15 medals).

For the first time in 2018, the registration of contestants and visitors for the business program of the Championship was organized. Everyone could register on the official website by completing the form developed by the Abilympics National Centre of the Russian Federation to participate in the business program as a participant or visitor.

During the two days of events, the Championship was attended by more than 10,000 visitors, of whom more than 1,200 took part in educational and business programs, 150 speakers held meetings, panel discussions, training, and lectures.

More than 600 volunteers supported the National Abilympics, including RSSU students, students of Moscow educational organizations (about 30 colleges), as well as more than 100 volunteers from 29 Russian regions, corporate volunteers, representatives of "silver volunteering".[14]

The Fifth National Abilympics was held from 20 to 22 November 2019 in Moscow. The venues were the 75th Pavilion of the VDNKh and the Technograd, Technological College No. 21, Educational Complex of the Stolitsa Urban Development Center, Russian State Social University, and Ovchinnikov Polytechnic College.

Within the framework of preparations for the Fifth National Abilympics, the RSSU organized training of National Abilympics judges from different Russian regions. Trainees included: employees of educational organizations, representatives of social organizations of persons with disabilities, representatives of employers, judges of Abilympics in professional skills for people with disabilities, and health limitations.

A qualifying exam was conducted to select the main judges and experts of the Fifth National Abilympics. As a result of the exam, 30 main judges of the National Abilympics qualifying stage, and 62 main judges of the National Abilympics finals were selected. A total of 378 national judges performed judging in the Fifth National Abilympics.

Teams of 85 Russian regions took part in the Fifth National Abilympics. The Championship was held in 62 major competencies and 31 presentation ones. The Championship was attended by 1,292 contestants aged from 14 to 66, including 308 young professionals, 569 students, 415 schoolchildren.

In terms of ICD, 7.42% of contestants had visual impairment, 19.73% hearing impairments, 17.79% musculoskeletal disorders, 1.08% Autism Spectrum Disorder, 29.7% mental disorders, 24.28% somatic disorders.

The Fifth National Abilympics engaged 520 volunteers, who helped in the following areas: internal and external navigation, assistance in organizing business and cultural events, meeting teams at airports and railway stations, working on Championship venues in different competences, participation in opening and closing ceremonies of the Championship, awarding contestants, as well as supporting operations of the Organizers' Headquarters and food courts.

On the sidelines of the Fifth National Abilympics, an educational business program was organized for contestants, including open lectures, training, career fairs, and presentations of information portals "Work in Russia" and "Federal Register of Persons with Disabilities".

Visits to Moscow cultural sites within a tour program were organized for contestants of the Fifth National Abilympics.

In 2019, the Moscow team became the leader of the medal count, the second place went to the Republic of Tatarstan, the third place – to the Moscow region. A total of 541 medals (181 gold, 182 silver, 178 bronze) were won by the contestants.[15]

The Sixth National Abilympics in Russia was held on 23–29 November 2020, for the first time online. There were 1120 venues equipped with everything needed for live broadcasts of competitions in compliance with the sanitary regulations.

Judges came to Moscow, and while staying at the headquarters of the Abilympics National Centre of the Russian Federation followed the course of the Championship and evaluated the contestants' work in real-time mode with the use of visual control devices. The results were submitted to the Center of Automatic Points Counting.

Within the framework of the championship the six-days' Business program was held both at "Amedia" studio and in the Cosmos Hotel.

The main issues were: the quality improvement of vocation education, employment, and vocational education guidance, career counseling, accessible city environment, including architectural accessibility of educational institutions, Abilympics movement development and regions' contribution to it, expert community development, interaction with employers and partners. Within the business, programs were held discussions, motivational lectures, public talks, TEDtalks, business conferences and creative gatherings, and workshops.

2000 contestants at the ages of 14 to 65 from 81 regions of Russia participated in 77 skill competitions. There were 269 specialists, 1097 students, and 607 schoolchildren. 416 national judges evaluated the championship.[16]

Among all contestants, 1.50% had vision loss, 6.25% had visual impairment, 10.10% had hearing loss, 11.30% had hearing impairments, 14.70% had musculoskeletal disorder (13% – mobility ones, 1.70% of contestants used wheelchair), 0.85% had ASD, 30.70% had mental disorders, 24.60% had somatic diseases.

In 2020, Moscow team took the first place of medal standings, the Republic of Tatarstan took the second place, the Moscow region took the third place. Winners were awarded 460 medals (154 golden, 154 silver, 152 bronze ones). 69 out of 81 regions of the Russian Federation had contest prizes.[17]

Contests were held in 77 following competences:[18]