KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 8
In celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 (IDPD 2024), a coalition of not-for-profit organizations in Kathmandu hosted a remarkable event showcasing the transformative power of inclusive sports in promoting disability rights and leadership. Organized by the Bright Star Society and ENGAGE, in partnership with Handicap International, the event, titled "Celebration of Adaptive Sports: A Festival of Social Inclusion through Sports," brought together diverse participants to highlight the significance of sports as a tool for inclusion and empowerment.
The initiative aimed to raise awareness about IDPD 2024 which is held on 3 December every year and its theme of this year, "Amplifying the leadership of disabled people for an inclusive and sustainable future." It involved youths with and without disabilities, students, sports coaches, and community members in a collaborative celebration of adaptive sports. The event provided a platform for youths with disabilities to showcase their athletic abilities in an inclusive environment while introducing wheelchair pickleball and Deaf pickleball to Nepal for the first time. It also sought to encourage fitness and well-being practices, with adaptive sports participants modeling positive behaviors.
Held at Brihaspati Vidyasadan (BVS) in Maligaun, Kathmandu, the event featured over 70 youths and young adults with physical disabilities participating in sports such as blind football, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair and Deaf pickleball, and Deaf football. Students and volunteers passionate about adaptive sports also joined the event, making it a collective effort to foster inclusion. The festival allowed players to explore new sports like Blind Futsal and showcase their expertise in established disciplines such as wheelchair basketball and Deaf football.
"Sports can be one of the best tools to enhance persons' fitness and wellbeing and it is particularly important that persons living with disabilities have equal rights like any other members of the society to sports opportunities. At the same time sports can also become a powerful tool to enhance and hone players' leadership skills, " the organizers said.
Each participant received the "Pyramid of Success" by legendary basketball coach John Wooden, which outlines values crucial for achieving excellence in sports and life.
"Today I am very glad because for the first time I and some of my friends with visual impairment were able to play blind football. It was a first time that we used a special ball with sound that I had brought several years ago from the United States and finally got the right platform and right Day. This event represents a small step towards creating a more inclusive society through sports, " said Sushil Adhikari, Co-Founder of Bright Star Society during the event.
Kalpana Gurung, Community Sport Leader and Co-Founder of ENGAGE, shared her inspiration from the Adaptive Sport for Social Change program in the United States and the motivation it gave her to bring multiple adaptive sports together. "Nepal can count with so many exceptional adaptive sports athletes, not only in national level but also in International Level. My recent learning visit in United States during Adaptive Sport for Social Change program gave me motivation to come-up with several adaptive sports in one platform. Today, this event was also possible because of like-minded organizations welcoming the creativity and innovative way to make an inclusive society. I am also happy to say that we successfully introduced Wheelchair & Deaf Pickle Ball and Blind Football" in Kathmandu."
