Athletes Àlex Roca and Jordi Madera, along with the co-founder of the association “Capaç i Vàlida,” Jana Arimany, will discuss the reality and challenges of inclusive sports on October 22.
The Bellavista Auditorium will host the talk “Inclusive Sports” on October 22 at 6:00 PM, as part of the events of Les Franqueses del Vallès, European City of Sport 2024. The roundtable will feature athletes Àlex Roca Campillo and Jordi Madera Jiménez, as well as the co-founder of the association “Capaç i Vàlida,” Jana Arimany Cañas. Together, they will reflect on the reality and future of inclusive sports and share their personal stories of overcoming adversity.
Àlex Roca Campillo is an athlete who suffered from viral herpetic encephalitis at just 6 months old, resulting in cerebral palsy and 76% physical disability, mainly affecting the left side of his body, causing reduced mobility and speech difficulties. His determination to face both personal and athletic challenges has defined his career, making him an inspiration to many. He has participated in extreme races such as the Titan Desert and the Pilgrim Race. In 2019, he achieved one of his most significant milestones, becoming the first person with cerebral palsy to finish the Titan Desert. Additionally, he has competed in 5 triathlons, 1 aquathlon, and 11 half-marathons. He also became the first person with 76% physical disability to complete a marathon, finishing the Barcelona Marathon in 2023, and later the Marathon pour Tous Paris 2024 with the Olympic course. An ambassador for the FC Barcelona Foundation, Roca also gives talks to raise awareness in society.
In 2017, at just twenty years old, Jana Arimany Cañas had an accident while traveling in Bali, which caused a spinal cord injury. From that moment, she had to adapt to a completely new reality, realizing that society was neither aware nor prepared to understand her condition. In 2019, together with her partner Gerard Soler, she founded the association “Capaç i Vàlida” to help people better understand disability and break down stereotypes. Her work with the association has led her to launch projects locally, including inclusive events in Catalan schools, workshops, and children’s races. The association has also started international cooperation projects in Kenya and Peru.
Jordi Madera Jiménez, ambassador of Les Franqueses del Vallès, European City of Sport 2024, is a Paralympic athlete who suffered a traffic accident at twenty, resulting in paraplegia. An athlete both before and after the accident, Madera decided to dedicate himself fully to athletics and began training at the High-Performance Sports Center in Sant Cugat del Vallès. Since then, he has competed in marathons and half-marathons, placing in the Top 10 internationally and competing in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
