The Region of Murcia brings to the European Parliament its inclusive sports model and Ángel Turpín's example of self-improvement
The Region of Murcia brings to the European Parliament its inclusive sports model and Ángel Turpín's example of self-improvement
The European Parliament today hosted the event 'Neurodiversity, Science and Sport: The Inspiring Journey of Ángel Turpín,' a medical student from Cieza with Asperger's syndrome and an elite karate competitor. The event placed neurodivergent talent and the role of sport as a tool for inclusion at the heart of the European debate.
The event brought together representatives from European institutions, public officials, experts, and professionals to reflect on neurodiversity in higher education, health, and sport, as well as on the need to move towards a Europe capable of recognizing different abilities and guaranteeing real opportunities for everyone.
The Director General of Sport, Fran Sánchez, spoke at the event and argued that "Ángel Turpín's story demonstrates that neurodiversity should not be viewed in terms of limitations, but rather in terms of talent, abilities, and opportunities."
During the meeting, the model promoted by the Region of Murcia through the CAR Region of Murcia was also presented. This is the only High-Performance Center in Spain with a primary focus on Paralympic sport and a space where Olympic, Paralympic, and inclusive sport coexist. The center develops a model based on equal opportunities and the coexistence of athletes with and without disabilities within the same training, technical development, and high-performance environment, making inclusion an integrated reality in daily sporting activity.
Likewise, the pilot project to be implemented soon in Cieza was announced. Mayor Tomás Rubio participated in the event. This project aims to facilitate the integration of children and young people with autism spectrum disorder into mainstream sports environments through athletics. The initiative will allow for an understanding of the participants' needs, provide appropriate support, and advance toward a best practice model that can later be extended to other municipalities and sports disciplines in the Region of Murcia.
Fran Sánchez emphasized that "true inclusion occurs when people share the same spaces, train together, and find the necessary support to develop their full potential," and underscored the value of sport in fostering autonomy, concentration, emotional self-regulation, social relationships, and a sense of belonging.
During his speech, the Director General of Sports also advocated for the importance of European institutions "incorporating neurodiversity into their sports policies and promoting the creation of common frameworks that encourage the training of coaches, research, the exchange of best practices, and equal opportunities."