The Autonomy Programme takes part in the Ice Sledge Hockey European Championships trophy

The Ice Sledge Hockey European Championships, the second edition of the European ice sledge hockey championships for the physically challenged, is being held from 18 to 24 November. This important sporting event will be hosted at the Pinerolo (Turin) Palaghiaccio (Ice Rink) and sees the participation of 100 athletes who will play 21 games in seven days of competition.

Organised under the aegis of the EPC (European Paralympic Committee) and the IPC (International Paralympic Committee), the championships involve the seven best teams in Europe who will fight it out for the title of European Champion: in addition to Italy, teams from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Norway, Poland and Sweden are competing.

Fiat Group Automobiles is present at this prestigious event with its Autonomy Programme, an initiative the company has been running since 1995 to provide individual and collective services and vehicles to the physically challenged, always offering product novelties as they come out and making cars as user-friendly as possible to the physically challenged. Specifically, the Autonomy Programme is supplying the Pinerolo event with two Fiat Ducatos outfitted with wheelchair platforms, and three Fiat Cromas for the transfer of guests and organisers.

The Ice Sledge Hockey European Championships represent a great opportunity for promoting this sport and presenting ice sledge hockey players to the public, at the same time contributing to the fight against prejudice and stereotyped opinion. So, an appointment of international standing that puts the province of Turin forward as the best possible showcase for world sporting contests for the physically challenged. And the Fiat Group Automobiles Autonomy Programme confirms its participation alongside these young people who, whatever the appointment or the event, always transmit their exciting message to the world: that there is no such thing as different competitions, only “different” abilities, in so far as all athletes have the same will to win, the same determination to overcome obstacles and the same desire to dream of new goals.

The Ice Sledge Hockey European Championships tournament is organised by a Committee made up of Turin Olympic Park, operators of the Palaghiaccio, the Municipality of Pinerolo and the Alioth Sports Society, affiliated to the C.I.P. under its president Paolo Covato (Mayor of Pinerolo) and vice president Tiziana Nasi (President of the C.I.P. Piedmont).