Wednesday, December 21, saw the grand opening of southern Israel’s first integrative sports complex, located in the Kaylie Rehabilitative Medical Center at ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran. The ribbon was cut in the presence of Minister of Culture and Sport Chili Tropper, director of the Ministry of Culture and Sport Raz Froilich, Merhav Regional Council Head Shai Hajaj and ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran CEO Avi Wortzman, residents from nearby towns and village residents and their families.

Israeli wheelchair tennis player and 2012 Summer Paralympics gold-medal winner Noam Gershoni addressed the crowd, after which people had a chance to try their hands at various accessible sports such as wheelchair basketball, floor volleyball and bow-and-arrow shooting.

In addition to rehabilitative sports activities for village residents and rehabilitative patients, the integrative sports center will be open to school students from neighboring communities, offering unique opportunities for inclusive interaction. The play of sports will further ADI’s goal of promoting inclusion between people of all abilities and creating a better, more caring society in Israel and the world over.