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Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova held a working meeting with Natalia Shmonina, author and founder of the "More Than Sport" project.
The team from the NGO "More Than Sport" presented to the Children's Ombudsman their infrastructure project for developing adaptive basketball nationwide and reported on nearly five years of work.
During this time, 17 adaptive hockey and basketball teams were established in various Russian regions. It all began in Penza Oblast, where currently two teams operate – the "Tornado" adaptive basketball team at a boarding school in Penza and the "Meteor" sledge hockey team in Kuznetsk. Alongside athletes aged 7 to 25, participants in the special military operation who have sustained disabilities due to combat injuries also train with the team. The project is implemented with the support of Governor Oleg Melnichenko under the state program "Sport of Russia."
"Our goal is to make sports accessible for children with disabilities, giving them the opportunity not only to train but also to compete alongside their peers," emphasized Natalia Shmonina. "The project began with a small team in Penza, and now we are launching an infrastructure project to develop adaptive basketball in Russia and are ready to share our experience with other non-profit organizations."
Maria Lvova-Belova supported the initiative of the Penza organization. It was decided that Natalia Shmonina will join the Public-Expert Council under the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights. Participation in the Public-Expert Council will enable her to replicate the proven Penza experience in other regions. The first meeting of this newly established consultative and advisory public body will take place in March 2026.