An integration tournament for all abilities - able-bodied and disabled golfers. International Mar y Sol Open 2010

After the first International Mar y Sol Open 2009, now will take place at Amarilla Golf & Country Club the 2nd International Mar y Sol Open 2010 from the 29th to the 30th of November 2010. The principal aim of this tournament is for the promotion of golf as an ideal sport option for the disabled, providing the benefits of physical exercise, therapy and social integration with able-bodied golfers.

Organized by the Mar y Sol Hotel and sponsored by a range of companies, who support this project in the Canaries, the organizers anticipate able-bodied and disabled players from England, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Holland and of course from Spain.

All competitors have a recognized golfing handicap and all golfers – able-bodied and disabled - play to “The Rules of Golf”, as legislated by the R&A in Scotland.

The climate and surroundings of Tenerife and the collaboration of the Amarilla Golf & Country Club and Mar y Sol Hotel, are pleased to offer their facilities for this mixed ability event – The International Mar y Sol Open 2010.


More info: http://www.golfopen-marysol.com

"Los Pocillos" an accessible beach in Lanzarote (Canary Islands)

This is one of the most renowned beaches in Tías, having once again been awarded a EU Blue Flag due to its outstanding quality. The beach is 1.230 ms long and 150 ms wide and is conveniently equipped. It is surrounded by an attractive promenade with a cycle-path, ideal for walking, cycling or simply seeing the art sculptures disseminated through the coast of Puerto del Carmen. It also has plenty of quiet and romantic corners. Images of this golden sand coast surrounded by an intense blue sea have been seen all through Europe and attracted thousands of tourists each year.

Close to the Pocillos beach a number of diving schools offer persons with limited mobility the chance to visit the seabed, a unique experience.

Pocillos is an accessible beach…ALL, without exception, can enjoy the beach in a convenient and safe way. The Tías municipality has equipped the beach with all necessary facilities and equipment:

1. Parking area close to the beach, with reserved parking places

These reserved places are signalled with graphic indications on the pavement and in vertical position. They are located in front of Playa de las Naciones. From this area up to the beach there are no barriers.

2. Signposts for accessible route, accessible beach and services are under way now and shall be placed soon

This way all persons shall be informed about access by car to the beach and fully accessible routes for wheelchair-users.

3. Accessible route

The pedestrian route that connects the town centre with the beach is now adapted after physical barriers were removed in public ways and the sea promenade. Pedestrian crossings in the area immediately connected with the accessible entry to the beach are also adapted.

4. Fixed, wood-made walkways

These are about 2,10 ms wide and 51 ms long, complemented with non-fixed, roll-up routes that lead to the seashore. Pocillos beach has a number of these walkways, from Playa de las Naciones up to the wet sand area. Wheelchairs can turn around in the rest area. The size of this area allows for parking of wheelchairs and transfers to and from adapted wheel- and amphibious chairs.

5. Roll-up walkways

These are to be found in the wet sand zone and allow direct access to the sea for persons with limited mobility. They are 1,20 ms wide and 21 ms long.

6. Shaded rest area

The beach is equipped with an adapted platform that allows persons with limited mobility to access rest areas.

7. Toilets and Showers

Adapted toilets and showers can be reached via the accessible route. The beach is equipped with four public adapted WCs and two showers with folding seats, present in Playa de las Naciones and Playa de Los Jameos.

8. Surveillance and first-aid area

This are is next to the accessible beach area and allows assistance to swimmers. Emerlan assists chair users through its staff of lifeguards and its volunteers.

9. Safe bath area

Lifeguards have the resources and aids for persons with limited mobility to access the sea in a proper way, including floating wheelchairs. Lifeguards have in place a system to help bathers leave the water when they have finished their bath and especially for emergency cases.


ADAPTED TOILET

Adapted toilet service in the Pocillos beach.

The Tías municipality has now strengthened the service for toilet access and accompaniment to the sea for persons with limited mobility, and this service shall be extended during the summer season. This services is targeted at elderly persons and persons with mobility problems, with its quality ensured by the team of lifeguards.

This system is available to all residents and tourists wishing to book amphibious chairs. This can be done by directly contacting lifeguards in the beach, without an appointment. This service is currently free of charge, available 365 days a year from 11.00 till 17.00.

Disability aids include aquatic chairs that ensure highly safe access to the sea.

Children and persons with intellectual disabilities should be accompanied by an adult.





Near accomodations:Bungalows Nautilus
More information about accessible Lanzarote: link

Around 600 disabled people enjoy the sea on the accessible beaches at the Balear Islands

About 600 people with disabilities have enjoyed this summer in the Balear Sea the "beach access" available to disabled swimmers offered by "Cruz Roja".

As explained the regional director of Cruz Roja Emergency Relief, Victoria Avella, persons with disabilities receive physical help, for the entrance to the beach, in the use of showers and the locker room and during the bath.

In this sense, the user is helped by the rescuer to access the amphibious wheelchairs or anfibuggys "entitled to the bathroom for people with reduced mobility, and during the time that remains in the sea the person receives a constant help.


For a better security, in the main beaches of Palma (Playa de Palma, Cala Estancia, Can Pere Antoni, and Cala Major Garden City) there are areas defined for these users bath.



A new service also offered by the Red Cross is accompanying blind people.


The service must be requested 24 hours in advance, a lifeguard takes the user through the bus stop, taxi or desired meeting point, accompanies him during his stay at the beach and then to where it tells you .


But the most original service, completely new in the Balear lands, carried out by the Ibiza Town Hall, in collaboration with ONCE, which was implemented on the beach of Talamanca the system known as " audioplaya "


The beach has a point of bathroom accessible for blind and visually impaired, equipped with a voice information system that allows them to be guided in the environment as well as knowing the water depth and the distance you are from shore .


It also has a number of buoys that help the user to deposit their belongings, each marked with a symbol touch.


With this system the Talamanca beach becomes the first of the islands completely accessible for blind and visually impaired.


The system of audioplaya was implemented for the first time on the beaches of Valencia and also runs in Melilla, Malaga and Almeria.