Around 350 enthusiastic Paralympics student athletes took to the field at Qatar Sports Club yesterday, enjoying a rare opportunity to compete alongside schoolmates as part of the fifth Schools Olympic Programme (SOP).
A young Qatari showing national pride
‘Special needs’ students from 22 schools and centres went head-to-head in the 60m, the 100m and the 200m races, shot put, standing long jump, soft ball and club throw and table tennis, with events tailored to the abilities of different students.
The event was attended by Sheikh Saoud bin Abdurrahman al-Thani, Secretary General of Qatar Olympic Committee, and Ameer Akbar al-Mulla, executive director of the Qatar Special Needs Federation.
Mohamed al-Fadala, executive director of the Schools Olympic Programme, said that the competition has grown from 250 students last year and has tripled in the last two years.
Al-Fadala believes the increasing number of participants is a sign that families are losing the ‘shame’ of having children with disabilities, and are encouraging their children to take part in public activities.
Family members as well as students from mainstream schools came to cheer on the Paralympics athletes, reflecting a change in mindset of the Qatari public.
Jawaan Bin Jassim Independent Elementary School for Boys physical education teacher Hitaf Hamad al-Sabah said that the children thoroughly enjoy these kinds of events, thou he lamented that such events are organised just once a year.
Participant or spectator, it was a day of fun at the Qatar Sports Club
Al-Sabah believes that such championships and athletic activities are of great benefit to the students, but more trained physical education teachers for special needs students are required.
Abdullah, a table tennis competitor from the Al Wafaa Model School, has been playing the sport regularly for a year. Physical education is one of the favourite parts of his school day and he hopes one day to become a doctor.
Um Youssuf spoke about her daughter Munira al-Muhanadi from the Al Khor Independent School who competed in the club throw.
“Children with disabilities are very encouraged if merged with other kids. They feel equal in everything. My daughter has cerebral palsy but she is very energetic and willing to practice sports,” she said.
“Upon her request, we have enrolled her in the Qatari Special Needs Federation and encouraged her all the way. She likes to watch football and basketball.
“The government is deploying endless efforts through many workshops and trainings for families and parents of children with disabilities.
“More awareness is certainly required in this area. I do call upon parents to let their children, particularly girls to practice sports; the only way to develop their capacities and skills is to help them enrol in sports clubs and interact with other children.”
Najlaa al-Adhba from the Shaffalah Centre said that over 30 of the Centre’s students took part in the Paralympics Day.
“Such activities help children both physically and mentally and open the door for them to express their feelings and demonstrate their abilities,” said al-Ahba, adding that the Centre is co-operating with Mada Centre to facilitate technology use for children with disabilities.
A key objective the Paralympics Day was to give students an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and potential physical capabilities, with the possibility of joining the national team of the Qatar Paralympics Committee in the future.
Winning teams from yesterday’s Paralympics event will also be competing in the SOP finals on April 5-6 at Aspire Dome.
Over 19,000 students from across Qatar are part of the SOP, which sees boys and girls aged five to 18 competing for medals in nine individual and team sports.
Encouraging Paralympics activities is an important part of Qatar’s bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as Qatar’s vision of a more inclusive society. “More and more attention has been paid over the years to Paralympics activities in Qatar,” said Noora al-Mannai, Doha 2020 CEO.
“And if Doha wins the honour of hosting the Olympics and the Paralympics, this will be the ideal beacon of inspiration for all people with disability.”