The Cleopatra Barrier-Free Public Beach, constructed in cooperation with the Alanya Tourist Operators Association (ALTİD) and Alanya Municipality with the financial support of the Western Mediterranean Development Agency, is receiving intense interest.
People with disabilities, who aim to participate in active living by exercising through the 'Every Stroke a Life' project, are cooling off by entering the sea with specially designed wheelchairs for themselves.
Ten disabled individuals receiving swimming training as part of the project entered the sea at Kleopatra Accessible Public Beach. The disabled individuals, who receive training in an indoor swimming pool during the winter months, continue their training in the sea during the summer. Entering the sea with the help of specially prepared wheelchairs under the supervision of Expert Physiotherapist Erdem Demir, the disabled individuals are encouraged toward sports and social life through training sessions held once a week. At Kleopatra Beach, where the air temperature was measured at 34 degrees and the sea water temperature at 27 degrees, the swimming disabled individuals both engage in sports and have the chance to cool off.
Stating that swimming is an activity that is very beneficial for the disabled both psychosocially and physically, physiotherapist Demir said, "By evaluating the physical capacities of our disabled friends, we encourage them to engage in sports and, consequently, social life. After the necessary security measures are taken, we carry out enjoyable sporting activities by minimizing all kinds of trauma risks."
Frants Simon Gjerde (20), who came to Alanya on vacation with his friends from Norway and witnessed disabled individuals using wheelchairs on the beach entering the sea, expressed his happiness at seeing disabled individuals being able to enter the sea freely in Alanya, stating, “I have vacationed in many countries around the world. However, these types of facilities are not available everywhere. It is very important for such infrastructures to be present on beaches. My respect and trust for Alanya have increased even more.”
Münir Altıoğlu, the Project Coordinator of the Barrier-Free Park and Life Center, stated that institutions are implementing significant projects in the field of alternative tourism in Alanya by working in harmony.