The European Table Tennis Championships for Paralympic Athletes will be held between 3rd and 14th of June in Genoa, which will see more than 700 competitors and 250 accompanying persons take part, from more than 30 countries. The Autonomy Programme of Fiat Group Automobiles will take part in the prestigious sporting event as Main Sponsor, hosted at the ultra-modern Vaillant Palace: it represents a magnificent opportunity to promote this highly formative discipline that develops reflexes, concentration and breathing and, from a psychological point of view, educates on winning and losing, but always treating both with the same stress-free attitude.

The Company will provide a fleet of 30 cars and vehicles for the 2009 European Table Tennis Championships, including some Ducato, Doblò and Scudo models, set up for the transport of people with limited mobility. In addition, two Fiat 500s - a special “by Diesel” series and a smart Sport 1.4 100 HP version - will provide the background to the area used for meetings.

Furthermore, at the stand outside the Vaillant Palace, the public will be able to admire an Alfa Romeo MiTo and a Lancia Delta, transformed by Guidosimplex and Kivi respectively, two of the many equipment companies that collaborate with Fiat Group Automobiles in the specialised equipment for assisted mobility sector. Both vehicles offer a circular electronic accelerator, located beneath the steering wheel, and a long-armed brake-lever complete with brake lock and horn.

The electric servo clutch is a feature of the Alfa Romeo MiTo, a device composed of an electronic servo engine managed by an electronic control unit, which simulates the characteristics of automatic transmission (gear changing is handled by a button on the lever). The vehicle's equipment is completed by the electrical rotating plate combined with the BEV seat (particularly low to facilitate leg movement during rotation), a manual wheelchair that becomes a vehicle seat, and the rear lifting device with a capacity of up to 40 kilograms.

So, the two vehicles on display - as in all other vehicles in the Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia ranges - offer a few of the multitude of special devices that can be fitted. 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.

Furthermore, at the fitted out stand in Genoa, the public can meet Danilo Ragona, a special guest of the Autonomy Programme with which he shares the concepts of beauty and functionality in an industrial product. In particular, the young designer from Turin designed the “B-Free Multifunction” wheelchair, a revolutionary product, both in terms of aesthetics and from a functional point of view, which won him the prestigious “Odisseo 2008 per l’interfunzionalità e l’innovazione” award of the Industrial Union of Turin. It should be pointed out that the project is the brainchild of Danilo Ragona, himself in a wheelchair, who, in light of his personal and professional experience, knew how to reinterpret the needs of differently abled people.

The Autonomy Programme together with the champions of today and tomorrow

Participation in the illustrious event in Genoa is evidence, once more, of the constant 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 “Coppa del Mondo di Sci Alpino per Disabili 2009” (the 2009 Disabled Alpine Skiing World Cup), the “Campionati Italiani di Sci Disabili 2008” (the 2008 Disabled Italian Skiing Championships), the Coppa del Mondo di tennis in carrozzina 2008 (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 Campionati del Mondo di Handbike (World Handbike Championships) and Campionati Europei di “Ice Sledge Hockey” (European Ice Sledge Hockey Championships).

Furthermore, the Fiat Group confirmed its support for the world of sport with the creation of a new team of young athletes - “Fabbrica Italiana Atleti” - which represents our country in the most important international sporting competitions. Among the ten top level sportsmen, who already were testimonials of the Fiat Group and its areas of activity, are also paralympic athletes Fabrizio Macchi, for cycling, and Roberto La Barbera, for Track and Field (the latter was chosen by Coni - Italian Olympic Committee - , on behalf of Italian Athletics, as one of the six testimonials of the new official colours of Italian sport throughout the world). Another testimonial of the Autonomy Programme is driver Alfredo Di Cosmo who took part in the 2006 and 2007 Italian Touring Car Championship, 1st Division, Group N3, reserved for 2.0 litre vehicles.

Finally, for the next two years Autonomy Programme will be complemented by the “Freewhite Sport Disabled ONLUS” project, an initiative which allows differently abled people to learn the art of skiing, to become completely independent on the snow. The courses will take place on the slopes of Via Lattea, with preference to Sestriere, already a site of the Winter Paralympic Games in Turin 2006.

Not just sport: from 1995, there has been a tangible commitment in the form of equipped vehicles and Mobility Centres

Since 1995, Fiat Group Automobiles - Autonomy Programme has undertaken, with commitment and energy, to fulfilling the specific task of an automobile manufacturer in this field. This means designing and implementing technical solutions able to offer everyone the possibility of using both individual and collective methods of transport, without limitations of any kind. An activity which, among other things, is perfectly in line with the most genuine vocation of a company, which operates in the market in accordance with a rigorous economic approach in order to satisfy human needs. And, therefore, the needs of customers. All customers. A concrete example? In 2008, roughly 20,000 Fiat Group Automobiles vehicles were sold in Europe and Brazil, equipped in accordance with the principles of the Autonomy Programme. Furthermore, an ever increasing number of people use one of the 18 Mobility Centres in Italy, where one can receive assistance regarding bureaucratic, legal and technical procedures, in addition to an initial "pre-evaluation" of the eligibility to receive a special driving licence (the actual evaluation and issue of the relative certificate remains the sole responsibility of the Medical Commissions). Due to the most sophisticated technologies and instruments available (such as the driving simulator), but especially the multitude of physiotherapists, driving instructors and technicians that work at these centres free of charge thanks to Fiat support.