Costa Rica NOC supports children and young people from communities at social risk with the project ‘One more round of life’
The Costa Rica National Olympic Committee announced the project: ‘One more round of life: boxing with values’ which aims to support boys, girls and young people from communities at social risk and use sport as an opportunity for personal growth.
This initiative, was developed by the Olympic boxer, Humberto Aranda, and Abraham Mora, a national boxer, and takes boxing, with or without contact, as a powerful tool for social inclusion, creating a strong sense of community and camaraderie. For this reason, under the initiative of the sports psychologist, Wendy Zúñiga, Olympic Solidarity was asked to support the first stage of One more round of life.
Olympic Solidarity finances the project in this first stage and the resources are used in gloves, ropes, snacks and other implements to develop the project, as well as the payment of human resources. In the following stages, support will be sought from private companies and government entities to have a greater scope and reach more communities, even in rural areas.
“It is known that sports practice, in addition to providing multiple physical and psychological benefits, is a mechanism for social transformation and a training activity, which is precisely what we are looking for with the project, to empower those who participate and, through the Olympic philosophy and values, promote them as leaders, agents of change and examples within their communities”, said Zúñiga, coordinator of the project.
In this first stage, the initiative is carried out in the communities of: Lomas de Ocloro, southern neighborhoods; La Chispa, Santa Ana: Alajuelita Center; and Tejarcillos, Alajuelita.
According to Alexánder Zamora, President of the NOC, the objective is “ to attract people to sport as a social catalyst for a more inclusive and equitable society. In addition, having a tool for healthy lifestyles and promoting sports values.
Additionally, the initiative seeks to strengthen the governance process in the NOC to project the Olympic movement and its values as a way of life in the country.
