Óscar Piñeres Cuadros, skateboarding instructor and philosophy student, earned the right to represent the UIS and Colombia at the Laureados Kardo awards with the project “Skate for Life,” which is taking place this week in Russia.
The initiative began almost 20 years ago on the streets of Barrio Álvarez and took root in Parque Extremo, located in the San Martín area. There, he showed local children and young people another way of life thanks to this sport.
Now in the Russian city of Stavropol, ‘Skate for Life’ is crossing borders, strengthening international ties and projecting the national commitment to urban cultures and sport.
“We have signed a treaty for international skateboarding social organizations in Russia, where organizations from Peru, Argentina, Africa, Mexico, Russia, Colombia, Chile, among other regions, seek to become part of the Confederation of Social Organizations in the world in favor of culture, sports, and peace worldwide,” said Piñeres Cuadros.
The Kardo Laureates are part of the only global award dedicated to the development of street culture and sports. The aim is for young people from 125 countries to discover their talents, support their hobbies, and communicate through this sport.
“It’s gratifying to have achieved this spot because it’s a step up. At first, we thought skateboarding was something small because we did it for love, but over the years we managed to make an impact on the community and earned the right to go to Russia. The idea is to make an impact in Europe, tell the story of transformation, and bring peace to all parts of the world through skateboarding,” added Piñeres Cuadros, who is a skateboarding teacher at the UIS and also a philosophy student.
Three projects from Colombia have been nominated for the international award for their great work in promoting urban culture and sports. This is the second time the country has participated in this competition.
