On Wednesday, 18 September 2024, the Somali Disability Network organized an inclusive sports event to create awareness in the communities. the aim of the event is to made an awareness campaign for the Paralympic Games and show the community that people with disabilities can take part all social activities and remove bad perceptions such as stigmatization and al to promote disability inclusion.
The Event took place in Beerta Banadir in Mogadishu, Somali’s capital city, in Banadir region, with six teams participating in three disability groups. Such as people who are physically impaired using wheelchairs, Amputee, and also people who are visually impaired.
The Event was one of the most interesting games ever to happen in Stadium Beerta Bandir, the viewers were shocked at how people with disabilities played, and this changed their minds. Sports can play everyone (disability is not inability). People with Disabilities showed in the event Paralympic games that persons with disabilities can take part in all social activities (Nothing about us without us).
The wheelchair handball match between two teams of wheelchair users has presented one of the most exciting games in the stadium, where they have good skills for wheelchair running and ball taking in the game. This proved to the public in Somalia that Paralympic games is possible and can be skilled in the sports market.
The amputee football match between two teams made an interesting play in the studio, where most fans and people watching laughed at the skills of the teams. The members of the amputee playing proved they could play all African games and international Olympic games.
The visually impaired teams played goalball matches between two visually impaired teams with balls that were different from the normal balls available in the markets. They presented talented and unique skills that gave them priority in the fans watching the games.
The overall objectives
➢Arrange inclusive sports events and public outreach campaigns to raise community awareness for issues of disability inclusion to take part in all social activities.
➢Organize Paralympic games for three teams of physically challenged persons and visually impaired persons through matches of public awareness campaigns for disability inclusion.
Key recommendations
❖Mr. Diyoow a member of the wheelchair handball team, I feel that nothing can disappoint us from our ambition for professional Paralympic players in Somalia and internationally. Maybe many challenges need to be solved with us and other interventions. As players, we can improve our spirit and interest in the games. But we may not solve the external factors like access to professional facilities, playgrounds, exercise equipment, rehearsal works, dressing clothes, wheelchairs, and good health care for the players. Without all this, there may be a burden on us that may hinder our progress.
❖Mr. Ahmed a member of the Amputee Football Team, as persons with disabilities, we organized ourselves with scarce resource expenses for sports, football, and athletics for the members of the amputee youth and children. On our side, there are some problems surrounding us, making us limited to being actively involved in the amputee sports of football and athletics in Somalia. Some are solvable, of course, like inspiration and motivation to be professional players, but what is hard for us includes support and investment to participate in international games for amputee sports football and athletics.
❖Mr. Dalmar Cadow Malin a member of the visual impairment team, we thank SDN for organizing this game with the support of Save the Children International through the TOFI program. We are very pleased to make an attitude change. We showed the community and stakeholders of Somali sports that disability can be able to take part in all social activities. We request that SDN and Save Children continue this good work to raise the rights of people with disabilities.
