In a particularly moving ceremony held in the mayor's office, scholarships of NIS 5,000 each were awarded to Alvin Landa, who competes in swimming, and to cyclist Nitzan Shamis. An additional scholarship will be awarded to cyclist Nofar Hanegbi. All three are members of Virtus Israel, an organization that promotes competitive sports – achievements among people with determination – autism and Down syndrome.
The scholarship is intended to enable athletes to prepare for the World Championships to be held in France this June.
Fifteen-year-old Alvin, an eighth grader in an academic class, combines studies with swimming six times a week. Alvin loves and is also talented in mathematics, will finish 15 units of mathematics in the tenth grade and aspires to start studying at Bar Ilan as a regular student while still in high school.
Nitzan Shamis, 5, has represented the country at several World Championships for people with special needs, which he won in 25, won a gold medal with a basketball team at the World Championships in Los Angeles, and in 2015 he won a silver medal with a basketball team at the World Games in Abu Dhabi.Since that year he also won two gold medals at the World Championships of the Paralympic Organization VIRTUS, when he participated in the 2019 and 1500 meters. In 3000, he won four gold medals and a bronze medal at the VIRTUS European Road Bike Championships.
The Mayor of Ashdod and the Special Athletes (Photo: official website, Photo: Ashdod Spokesperson's Office)
At the VIRTUS World Championships in France, Nitzan will compete in a 50-kilometer and ten-kilometer bicycle race, and for the first time also in a boldrome track race.
Mayor Dr. Yehiel Lasri congratulated the athletes and thanked them for the great pride they bring to Ashdod: "Your achievements on the sports field are a victory of the spirit, I am happy and proud of the privilege we had to give you another push on the
way to victory in every championship, and wish you success. As far as I'm concerned, you're already champions."
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