One winter day in 1989, a person living in Kitakyushu said to himself "how nice it would be if there was a sport thatpeople with severe disabilities can enjoy with those without disabilities." It was the time when the dream for thissport was born.
Most of the existing sports for people with disabilities are limited to only those with disabilities. In addition, very fewsports are available to those with severe disabilities.
The idea of using balloons comes from the use of them for physical exercises. This has become common practice inrehabilitation, recreation, hospitals, institutions, and other organizations for people with disabilities evolved to become"Fusen Volleyball." It is a sport for anyone who wants to join.
* The next step
The sport was so fun and successful, that in the spring of 1990,"The Fusen Volleyball Promotive Committee"was established for the purpose of promoting this sport to the public in Japan, promoting participation of people withdisabilities in society, and building networks in every community.
It took half a year for us to create the rules. We went on to make videos, and surveys for different communities.Additionally, we composed a theme song, "Kaze-ni Omoi-wo (Our hope will fly high and away with the wind, or hopeswith the wind)".
With our song, we started the Tournament of Fusen Volleyball that autumn.
* Up to today
In autumn of 1990, the 26thNational sports contest for athletes with disabilities took place in Fukuoka. Parts of thiscontest took place in Kitakyushu. Taking full advantage of this opportunity, we held the first National tournament ofFusen Volleyball around the same time. 14 teams in total came from Kitakyushu, Tagawa city, and Yamaguchiprefecture.
The second tournament took place in the following year. Teams from Kagoshima prefecture participated in the 2ndtournament, resulting in 18 teams who joined us. On the 3rdtournament, 24 teams joined. There were teams fromOita and Nagasaki prefectures. And at the 4thtournament, 28 teams participated. These days our sport is played invarious communities for events, sport meetings, or recreation
* The future of Fusen Volleyball
Through this sport, we would like to promote the interaction between people with disabilities and people withoutdisabilities, as well as to provide more opportunity for participation in social activities. We also hope to promote thissport internationally.
Do you think Fusen volleyball has future in the Olympics or the World Cup?
Some day in near the future, yes.
Why not?
