Inclusive climbing in Munich: Aim high together without pressure to perform!

Inclusive climbing in Munich: Aim high together without pressure to perform!

In the Munich-Thalkirchen climbing center you will find one of the most remarkable initiatives for inclusive exercise sports: the climbing group “I want to go up there!”. Here, children with and without disabilities climb together on the walls of the bouldering room. While some are aiming high, another child is playing cat on the ground and is supposed to catch the mice. This isn't just a game, it promotes teamwork and cooperation among young climbers like this in a playful way South German newspaper reported.

The inclusive climbing group was founded in 2008 and has since developed into an important contact point. Founding member Linda, only 15 years old, discovered climbing as therapy after an operation that restricted her activities on several occasions. Both children and adults participate in this group, and special aids such as blindfolds or hearing protection are often used to promote integration. There are currently over 85 people on the waiting list for the 14 active groups, which train regularly every two weeks.

A network for inclusion

The “Seilschafft Inklusion” initiative has set itself the goal of supporting the establishment of more inclusive climbing groups nationwide. This network offers a platform for clubs and individuals to exchange best practice examples and learn from each other. “We want to promote natural coexistence among all people and show that everyone has their place when climbing,” explains a representative of the initiative. Inclusion ambassadors are also being trained who want to share their experiences and promote inclusive climbing, as shown on seilschafft-inklusion.de is to be read.

The importance of such sporting activities should not be underestimated, especially for people with disabilities. A survey presented as part of the BGW sports symposium shows that for many, sport not only means health, but also fun and stress relief. However, reality often encounters obstacles such as lack of time or financial limitations. Specialists and assistants play a key role here in making the offers accessible, such as BGW points out.

Strong together

At the Thalkirchen climbing center, the groups are deliberately made up of diverse groups. Both girls and boys, people with and without disabilities climb together, and the training courses are designed to protect the personal rights of the participants. With a maximum of six children or eight adults per group, personal attention is given top priority. Fun comes first: the children decide for themselves about their activities and can learn and grow independently without pressure to perform.

The group is sustainably supported through donations and funding, as participation fees are independent of income. Children are also reported to regularly pursue individual goals or simply experience the joy of climbing while being supported by a cuddly toy named Sloth Paul. This shows once again how important such financially accessible offers are in order to give everyone the opportunity to participate in sport.