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The Disabled
Alpine Skiing World Cup is to be held in Sestriere
(Turin) between 18th and 23rd January. The World Cup is
promoted by the Italian Paralympic Committee and by the
International Paralympic Committee and assigned to the
Freewhite Ski Team ASD (FISI CIP affiliate), an amateur
sports association set up for children between the ages
of 3 and 18 who intend to find out about and learn all
about snow sports techniques.
Approximately
120 athletes from more than 20 different countries will be
competing on the Kandahar Banchetta Giovanni NASI slope, the
setting of the 9th edition of the Turin 2006 Paralympic
Games. And for the second time, Fiat Group Automobiles will
be taking part in the prestigious sporting event as its Main
Sponsor, with the Autonomy Programme, the initiative with
which the company has been engaged since 1995 in the
creation of services and means of individual and collective
transport intended for those with reduced motor capacities,
as ever in line with the continuous new products, and to
encourage disabled people to familiarise with the car.
It should be
pointed out that the Autonomy Programme and Freewhite Ski
Team ASD have been working together since 2007 to bring to
life some highly interesting projects and initiatives. These
include the Italian CIP Championships and the “Independence
also on snow” project, an introduction course to Alpine
skiing organised on the slopes of Sestriere with the aim of
familiarising young disabled people with the world of
skiing. Thanks to the success of these two initiatives,
along with that of the last edition of the “2009 Disabled
Alpine Skiing World Cup”, the Autonomy Programme is
sponsoring the event in Sestriere again this year, providing
two Fiat Ducato equipped for carrying the athletes and some
Fiat vehicles to transfer the guests and the organisers
(from the Fiat Sedici to the Scudo Panorama and the New
Croma). In addition, on the occasion of the sporting event,
the public will have the opportunity to see up close four
models transformed according to the principles of the
Autonomy Programme and built by some of the numerous
bodywork fitters who work with Fiat Group Automobiles in the
special equipment for assisted mobility sector: at the
bottom of the slope, in the location used for prize
awarding, a preview of the New Doblò “high roof version"
will be on show, while the Alfa Romeo MiTo, Lancia Delta and
Fiat 500 will be appearing at the Sponsor Village set up at
the Sestriere Sports Arena.
In detail,
Olmedo built the New Doblò “high roof” in the “kit-lift”
version intended for the transport of disabled people, which
consists of a concealed rear ramp with a high load capacity
(more than 300 kg) and the highest load platform dimensions
in its class (1150 x 840 mm). The kit can be removed in a
few hours, thus offering the advantage of being able to sell
the car both equipped and as a standard vehicle. Another
distinctive trait of the New Doblò in the “kit-lift” version
is the flooring in the passenger compartment, which features
a certified washable non-slip surface available in a variety
of colours, while the wheelchair storage surface features
standard the brand new “flex floor” aeronautical technology
which concurrently affords high structural rigidity and
lightness. The New Doblò is completed by the special “blue
way” system comprising light sources which have very low
consumption levels and cold emission, in addition to two
practical compartments with concealed doors - situated in
front of the bench of the second three-seater row - which
are illuminated with LED technology and contain the first
aid box as well as the wheelchair anchoring system.
The Fiat 500 on
show in Sestriere was transformed by Guidosimplex with a new
circular electronic accelerator, located beneath the
steering wheel with a vertical brake lever. In addition, to
facilitate the wheelchair positioning on the rear seat and
make the driver fully independent, the driver's seat can be
turned by 90°. The Lancia Delta is instead fitted with a
circular electronic accelerator, located beneath the
steering wheel, and a long-armed brake-lever complete with
brake lock and horn. Prepared by Kivi, the vehicle also
features an electric turn and slide door which turns the
rear left door into a sliding door to get the wheelchair
onto the car more easily behind the driver's seat using a
hoist.
Lastly, fitted
by Handytech, the Alfa Romeo MiTo features a semicircular
accelerator, located above the steering wheel, covered with
leather and which operates fully independently from the
vehicle's original systems. In addition, the vehicle has a
vertical long-armed brake-lever complete with brake lock and
horn. So customers will be able to appreciate the electronic
servo clutch: it is a device composed of an electronic servo
engine managed by an electronic control unit, which
simulates the characteristics of an automatic transmission.
In detail, on this version of the MiTo the gear changing is
managed by a button on the gear lever (the system can be
disabled via a switch which returns the clutch to its
original functions).
So these and
other special devices can be fitted on the four vehicles on
show in Sestriere - as on all the others in the Fiat, Alfa
Romeo and Lancia range. We are talking about simple, easy to
install solutions which integrate perfectly with the
passenger compartment, without compromising ergonomics,
passenger room, comfort and vehicle safety. These complement
standard controls, thus allowing people without
driving-related difficulties to drive them. In addition,
they can be easily removed and therefore offer the advantage
of being able to sell the car both equipped and as a
standard vehicle. There is also a lot of financial aid
reserved specifically for disabled customers.
In short,
participation in the "Disabled Alpine Skiing World Cup" is
completely in line with the commitment shown by the Fiat
Group which, by means of several prestigious sporting
events, aims to reduce prejudices and clichés: in fact,
there are no "different" competitions, just "different"
abilities, given that all athletes have the same will to win
and the same desire to overcome any obstacle. This
commitment is best demonstrated by the participation of the
Fiat Group - Autonomy Programme, as Main Sponsor, in the
last two editions of the "Disabled Alpine Skiing World Cup",
the “2008 Disabled Italian Skiing Championships", the 2008
Wheelchair World Tennis Cup, in addition to being an
official partner of the 9th Winter Paralympic Games in Turin
2006. Without forgetting the 2007 sponsorship of the World
Handbike Championships and the European Ice Sledge Hockey
Championships.
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