Training wall teaches children safe rock climbing

• Children at Děčín rock-climbing club can practice climbing on a new training wall
• The T-Mobile Fund contributed CZK 100,000 for the acquisition of the wall
• The wall is also available to the public during certain hours  

Prague, 12 October 2007 - In Děčín-Bělá, in the region of sandstone rocks, a local Sokol organization has built a training wall that is also suitable for children. The wall will be ceremoniously opened on Monday, 15 October. The sports organization can thus now begin the implementation of its project to help children learn the sport of rock climbing.

"Sokol Bělá has been working with children for a long time. A safe, high-quality training wall is a necessary tool for them and T-Mobile therefore contributed CZK 100,000 for its acquisition," said Martina Kemrová, Head of Corporate Communication at T-Mobile.

The new wall is seven meters high and 12 meters wide. "It is designed and built in such a way that it can also be used by children without it being too physically demanding for them," said Jan Pacina, Vice Chairman of Jednota Sokol Bělá and the chairman of its rock-climbing club. "We have one more wall here with a 45‑degree overhang. However, that wall is very difficult and thus not suitable for children," added Jan Pacina.

Today, 15 children attend Sokol Bělá's rock-climbing club. Their training is divided into two basic levels: first, they learn the principles of safe climbing, such as correct binding, use of snap-hooks, etc. Then they practice climbing. Until now, they have been practicing on an old wall which, however, is no longer suitable due to safety reasons.

Starting next year, Sokol Bělá wants to open a second course for another 15 to 17 children. "Those who show tenacity, fitness and talent will later be transferred to the rock-climbing club," said Jan Pacina. The new wall can also be used by children and adults who are not members of Sokol Bělá. For a small fee, they can practice climbing in the evening from Wednesday to Sunday, and even borrow climbing gear.

The total cost of the new wall amounted to CZK 340,000. The T-Mobile Fund contributed CZK 100,000 through the VIA Foundation, which manages funds intended to support projects recommended by T-Mobile employees. The "Children's Climbing School" project was recommended by a T-Mobile employee from Prague who is originally from Děčín and is still active in Sokol Bělá.

This is the third year that various projects have received financial contributions from the T-Mobile Fund. The VIA Foundation selected 27 projects from among 133 projects recommended by T-Mobile employees to receive funding totaling CZK 2 million.

More information is available from: Jan Pacina, tel.: 602 689 728, e-mail: jan.pacina@seznam.cz.

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