Judoka Arthur Cavalcante da Silva, gold medalist at the Paris Paralympics, visited the research and teaching laboratories of the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience (IIN-ELS), a unit of the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD), in Macaíba, this Friday (27). The visit was part of the Paralympic Education Seminar of the Natal-Macaíba Reference Centers, a scientific event organized by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB), in which Arthur was one of the main speakers.
During his presentation, Arthur shared his personal and professional experiences with the audience, answering questions and reflecting on the impact of sport on his life. He highlighted the transformative role of sport for people with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of public policies that encourage Paralympic sport and the development of new technologies to promote a more inclusive society.
“Sport, especially for people with disabilities, is a paradigm shift. Society often teaches that people with disabilities are limited and without autonomy, but sport is a powerful tool to show that they are capable of much more than we imagine,” said Arthur.
When visiting the IIN-ELS laboratories, Arthur got to know first-hand innovative research in the area of neuroscience, which seeks to both improve the performance of Paralympic athletes and enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities. One of the studies presented maps the body movements of athletes using sensors installed at specific points on the body, allowing the correction of changes that could compromise sports performance.
In addition to highlighting scientific advances, Arthur reinforced the importance of partnerships between science and sports to make competitions fairer, more accessible and inclusive, allowing athletes with disabilities to reach their full potential. “The Institute has an immense structure, with great potential to help Brazilian parasports. I hope that, soon, the research being done here will be put into practice by more athletes and by the Paralympic Reference Centers,” he said.
Spreading knowledge about parasports
The Paralympic Education Seminar of the Natal-Macaíba Reference Centers took place on September 26 and 27, at the Physical Education Department of UFRN and at the ISD, respectively. The activity was promoted by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB) and included theoretical and practical activities, aimed at disseminating knowledge about parasports and presenting scientific research related to the topic, in addition to encouraging the exchange of experiences among professionals working in the sport.
“We must praise the willingness of ISD researchers to seek solutions to the challenges that arise in sports, in addition to the social inclusion work promoted by parasports. We believe that this dedication places Rio Grande do Norte in a prominent position and will bring even more results to Brazilian parasports,” highlighted Tibério Maribondo, representative of CPB.
Parasports Care Line
The ISD offers parasports activities for users of the ISD Specialized Rehabilitation Center (CER ISD) care lines at the ISD/Macaíba Paralympic Reference Center. Currently, bocce and paraathletics are offered free of charge to adults and children aged 7 and over.
Interested parties can schedule an appointment, which is followed by a remote screening and a global assessment to verify the eligibility criteria for the modalities offered. Appointments can be made by phone (84) 4042-0033 and (84) 4042-0044, or via WhatsApp (text only): (84) 9-9155-302, from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm.
About ISD
The Santos Dumont Institute is a social organization linked to the Ministry of Education (MEC), which includes the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience and the Anita Garibaldi Center for Education and Research in Health, both located in Macaíba. The mission of the ISD is to promote education for life, forming citizens through integrated teaching, research and extension actions, contributing to a more just and humane transformation of Brazilian society.
