‘There’s still a lot to do and I still wouldn’t call society inclusive’ | Relief

Five years ago, it released championA funny and touching film about a basketball coach and his new students (a group of disabled people). was a resounding success, exposing the group and bringing its characters’ personal stories to theaters. Five years later, this champion returns to the big screen with the second part of the adventure, champion xtaking the new discipline as the common thread, changing the first movie’s basketball to track and field. In addition, the addition of new actors has also won the love and sympathy of the public.

Roberto Chinchilla (Madrid, 1982) is one of them. He plays Roman in the feature film, a role inspired by a Paralympic athlete caught in the trap of the system, as happened to some athletes in Sydney in 2000. But before acting, his life was mostly focused on sports.. Start with basketball, excel and win in various sports, then get back to playing around the basket and coaching. In addition to the new part of “Champion,” Roberto also talked about a world that is kind to people with special abilities in “Relevo.”

How is your relationship with the sport? When does it begin?

My relationship with sports began when I was seven years old. When I was very young, I didn’t know how to run, track and field, play basketball… I learned a little bit of everything, and swimming. But the most important thing is sports, he instilled in me bit by bit the characteristics of running and other things. Before running, I started playing basketball. I didn’t even know how to dribble, I held the ball higher than my head, I didn’t know how to take the same steps, and I was running so fast the ball flew away. It’s a scary experience because they are living circumstances. Coaches don’t know how to handle training well. In this way, I began to fully enter the world of track and field. I’m a twelve-time champion of the Spanish highlands, runner-up in the Spanish middle class… I’ve achieved great things in athletics. Then at the age of 17 I started jumping and even set a record in Spain at the time.

How do you regain your love for basketball after a bad first experience?

I was in a cast, I had a torn ligament in my foot, and I went to see a basketball team that was being formed in Alcobendas. That’s when I realized I wanted to be a coach. Then one of them told me, “Roberto, if you want to be a coach, go for it.” Little by little he encouraged me and made me a basketball player. At 35 or 36, I was hooked on the world of basketball…until now.

Relatedly, from your personal experience, before and now, do you think sports and the world of sports have been unfair to you?

You don’t have to be unfair about anything, you have to have a great philosophy to restore enthusiasm to the sport. Because it’s not about being the best or worst, it’s about being yourself and being welcomed as one of the others. It’s about not throwing out anyone with a different ability.

What does exercise mean to you?

Well, mine is all about being content, having fun, and teaching the kids. The sports world is not at home playing video games. There are great things ahead of sports, and as long as kids show up every day and say: “jolín!, this football coach taught me this, or this basketball coach taught me to shoot”, they learn to value the world of sports. They don’t say “sports are potatoes” all day long. The values ​​of sport must always be passed on. Confidence, enthusiasm, win, lose. There are many rules of basketball and football, but what they should never learn is bad request or influence from parents etc.

Speaking of the film, what did the first film mean to you personally? Do you think the success of the Campeones has changed society to be more inclusive?

Well, it changed my life for the better. From the first minute we shot The Champion, I went through the movie with the greatest sense of satisfaction in the world. We have this diversity in society. They watch us all over the world, they watch us through mirrors and visibility. They got to know us through all the media.but What is needed is inclusivity, to make it work, to do it everywhere, they don’t look down on anyone, and that’s what I want all political parties to be. They shouldn’t be telling us “Hey, we’re going to lower this because this is already happening in the economy.” Nope.Here, if you want to see any movies, politicians… please watch the movies on August 18th, and then Work with differently abled people to absorb what is happening in society. I really invite them to raise a little awareness.

Do you see Spain as an inclusive country with special abilities or does it still have a lot of work to do?

There is still a lot of work to be done. I still don’t think society is inclusive because, as I told you before, politicians don’t usually talk about disabilities. They chatted a bit. They talk so little. They don’t talk about things like “we’re going to help, we’re going to contribute, we’re going to do our part,” because I come from partnerships with inclusive schools. How is this going?That These politicians want to close schools, they want disabled children to be integrated into other schoolsand I don’t think society has much to do.

In terms of sports, are disabled people able to participate in sports, or are there many restrictions?

There is a lot of accessibility. We have different abilities, but they all have access to the world of sports. And there is no room for everyone to know to play any type of sport, swimming, rollerball, track and field, etc. They are sports that are accessible to people with disabilities.

Let’s talk about the new movie. What will we discover in the new film? What do you expect from her?

Well, everything: adventure, a little emotion, a little fun…you’ll find a lot, see some championship emotion on the pitch, then it’s a surprise, right? Surprises will come later. We do this for the emotion of the people, the audiences all over Spain, I know that when they go to the “Campeonex” movie they will be moved, but they will be happy, with a clean laugh, and then they will cry a little bit. The film also evokes emotion, joy and satisfaction. I hope this happens a little bit like 2018. People have joy, surprise on their faces, and they want to go to the cinema. And, once the kids get into it, they love it so much, they laugh out loud. Let them stand near the door to go to the bathroom… (laughs).

You’ve told us you’re good at sports, how has your teammates changed?

On the first day of filming, no one knew how to jump high. I have to teach them, because I am a specialist in height, (…), I teach him what is speed, what is weight, long jump, high jump. Javier invited us to film a track meet with a new script. It was easy for me, my co-workers were sweating the fat drops the first day. I’d tell them “Are you tired?” I remember my first steps, from when I started. When I was little they called me “Little Bird”.because he runs more That… I don’t know. I remember the adults running around the track and I didn’t stop. And it doesn’t stop there. This was the beginning of my track and field career. I remember my childhood, when I was competing.

What sports would you recommend for people with disabilities?

With children with special abilities, you have to go bit by bit. You have to transfer them from scratch. But you don’t have to tell him, “Hey, go out there and do track and field, it’s better.” No, no. You start from scratch. You suggest you tell your parents. You advise your parents. Because first of all you can’t suggest to a particular person to do one thing or the other, you can’t tell him to “run 20 laps” and then you put the owl on your back. No, tell your parents first. Parents get the information you pass on to them. Once you pass it on to your parents, they will value the sport. Be it basketball, soccer or swimming. You have to tell your parents first.