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It`s right time for diversified sports
2007-10-20 09:24:56
By Editor
Recent observations that East African countries have every possibility to become world blind cricket giants make interesting reading that should serve as a challenge to sports authorities and lovers in the region.
The observations are attributed to World Blind Cricket Council secretary general Geoff Smith, whom a section the Tanzanian media have quoted as having said the sport has great potential to empower the blind and earn the region international repute.
In a region where performance in most able-bodied sports is not that inspiring but athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities have generally been very well, Smith`s comments should bring in much-needed hope and relief.
Indeed, coming only days after Tanzania`s participants in the recent World Special Olympics in China jetted back with a bagful of gold, silver and bronze medals, Smith`s note is real food for thought.
Records show that formal international competition in deaf sport began with the so-called Silent Games in Paris in 1924, organised by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf. These later evolved into the modern Deaflympics.
Meanwhile, organised sport for persons with physical disabilities developed out of rehabilitation programmes chiefly in response to the post-World War II needs of large numbers of injured ex-service members and civilians.
It thus started as sport for rehabilitation, later growing into recreational sport and then into competitive sport.
This is what evolved into the modern Paralympic Games, now partly governed by the International Paralympic Committee.
The formal running of sports for persons with intellectual disabilities began in the 1960s through the Special Olympics movement.
Today, Special Olympics provides training and competition in a variety of sports.
Various sports have been adapted for participation by people with disabilities, while some are outside the formal sports movements.
Sports in which the deaf usually take part include athletics, basketball, badminton, cycling, handball, judo, karate, soccer, table tennis, volleyball and wrestling.
Among the most popular Paralympic sports are athletics, basketball, cycling, soccer, judo, weightlifting, sailing, tennis, volleyball, and wheelchair rugby.
Common Special Olympics sports include athletics, basketball, cycling, golf, gymnastics, soccer, table tennis, team handball, volleyball, and weightlifting.
The last group covers sports specific to the visually impaired like blind cricket, blind golf, electric wheelchair soccer, handcycling, and wheelchair hockey.
It would pay for society to understand that everybody deserves the opportunity to get involved in appropriate sports activities, regardless of one`s physical or other disadvantages.
Some countries have organisations dedicated to the promotion of sports for persons with disabilities by providing the targeted groups with relevant recreational and other facilities through carefully chosen sports clubs.
All these initiatives provide opportunities for persons with disabilities to develop their skills in sports and merit maximum support.
Tanzania is no stranger to such initiatives but, let`s face it, precious little has been done to promote them into a national priority.
With the sterling performance by our sporting heroes in China and Geoff Smith`s motivational remarks, we should see reason to afford sports other than able-bodied soccer, basketball and the like attracting greater attention and support.
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