On Tuesday 24 July in Kazan met the bronze prize-winners of tournament for the unified football, which was held in Chicago. In the competition dedicated to the 50th anniversary of The special Olympics and held at the same stadium, where half a century ago started the first Games for athletes with intellectual disabilities (athletes), Russia was represented by a team formed from students of Mamadysh correctional school and "partners" - children who do not have deviations in development. As a partner in Chicago has been a student of Volga Academy Rishat Shaihutdinov.
Unified sports is a global program that unites athletes with intellectual disabilities (athletes) and people who do not have disabilities in development (partners), in game teams to improve sports skills, create inclusion in sports. The purpose of the program is to help people with intellectual disabilities to become full members of society.
In February, Kazan hosted the all-Russian Spartakiad of the special Olympics of Russia in unified football, the winners of which were the hosts, Tatarstan players. Since then, and started preparing our team for the tournament in Chicago. 
Rishat Shaihutdinov before entering the Academy (at the faculty of physical culture, direction of sports management) was engaged in football in Mamadysh youth school, moving to Kazan, for some time played mini-football for the team "IRBIS". From this year, he said, he will play for the Academy team.
He joined the training as a "partner" at the stage of preparation for the all-Russian Spartakiad at the request of the physical education teacher of the boarding school Andrey Kuklev and his football coach Kadyr Mamonov, who trains the national team. In Chicago, our team in the group stage beat the team of Texas (USA) with the score 3:0, then lost to the players from the UAE (0:4), and in the last round defeated the Canadians (9:2). In the semi-finals the boys defeated the French (0:3). Bronze medals in the rules of the tournament went to both semi – finalists-teams of Russia and China.
- When I asked for help Andrey Pavlovich and Kadyr Rafatovich, of course I could not refuse. It wasn't easy at first. It took some time to get used to, to learn to understand each other on the field. And yet the guys from the boarding school in the game can not perform much of what partners are able to do. But gradually we got used to it, the partners give a lot of advice to athletes in the game, and outside the football field we have a very good relationship. After all, we were settled in the hotel in double rooms so that each athlete had a neighbor-partner. At first, the guys are very shy, but after a while they get used to it, begin to trust more and open up.
- On the football field, how are your roles?
- According to the rules, 5 partners and 6 athletes take the field as part of the team. Who plays where? Everyone has their own way. We usually have two athletes playing in the attack, and most of the goals scored by them. In General, we tried to pass more to the athletes so that they could participate in the game as much as possible. And, by the way, the organizers are also watching this, who can make a remark to the teams if the partners "pull the blanket over themselves". I can even recommend someone from such partners should be kept in reserve for the next match.
Five days in Chicago is, of course, not only football, but also communication with the participants of the tournament (in total 16 teams took part in the Olympics), acquaintance with the most beautiful city. The organizers included a bowling trip and a visit to the Museum in the program of the athletes ' stay. During the tournament, the participants found a lot of new friends, in memory of which they had many Souvenirs and gifts. And Rishat, according to him, returned from the United States, you can say, another person.
- Of course, I have a lot changed in my views of the world around me. Such trips, and communication with such guys does not pass without a trace. I saw and understood how much I can do for them, and how rich in society today is the choice of means for self-realization of people with disabilities. Of course, I understand that some of my peers can still afford words or actions that humiliate "athletes". For me, it's wild and unacceptable. I don't think of such friends. And I will certainly try to explain that a person is absolutely wrong. And if he doesn't understand, then shut up.
Rishat does not intend to stop playing in unified football and hopes that the team that won the "bronze" in Chicago, will continue to perform. Let and in the updated structure. Although, according to Andrei Kuklev, the composition is possible to keep almost completely. And in the autumn the team from Mamadysh will go to St. Petersburg for the Cup of the all-Russian Spartakiad special Olympics in mini-football (Futzal).