AfricaPress-Tanzania: TANZANIA Paralympic Committee (TPC) says it plans to involve many women in sporting activities.
Ramadhan Namkoveka, TPC Secretary General, stated in an interview they have started with Paralympic athlete Sauda Njopeka who is in Tunisia attending qualification competition for Tokyo Paralympics.
He said TPC is banking on Sauda to make it to the Tokyo Paralympics on qualifying ticket, not wild card.
Other sports women with disabilities who have represented the country at international events are Bedina Nyinyimbe and Bernadeta Kinyero.
“We have very few women with disabilities involved in sports, but with Sauda’s achievements we hope many women will be motivated to be involved in sports as athletes and leaders,” he said.
He said after the Tokyo Paralympics, TPC will start an awareness campaign on the involvement of women with disabilities in sports.
He stated: “The country has many women with disabilities both young and old, but they are not involved in sports as there is a misconception among many people that it is inhuman to involve women with disabilities in sports.”
”We will create an awareness which will aim at informing the public that any person can take part in sports,” he said.
He further said TPC believes that through civic education on the importance of sports to people with disabilities the mindset of many will change.
Namkoveka said some communities look down on people with disabilities and even parents and guardians of children with disabilities often see them as a burden and they are kept or left at home, denying them social engagement with their peers and, in most cases, sports events.
Recently, TPC announced that organizers of Tokyo Paralympics have asked the committee to prepare more female athletes with disabilities for the Games.
In a previous interview, the then TPC Secretary General Tuma Dandi said they were working closely with International Paralympic Committee (TPC) which is advocating for more women with disabilities participating in sporting activities as stipulated on article 30 of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
He said sports are important to all human beings but they are more significant to people with disabilities as success gives them self-confidence.
Dandi said he is aware of the challenges which hinder women with disabilities from participating in sports, but TPC is ready to change those mind set.
He added sports play a major role in rehabilitating people with disabilities into society.
He asked the society to embrace inclusive sports programs as it is essential that everyone that makes up a community is equally important regardless of gender, race, physical or mental disability.
“We strongly believe that everyone has something to contribute to society what is need to do is give them the space, opportunity and platform to show their talents,” he noted.
“With support from German based Agitos Foundation and National Sports Council (NSC) we have been organizing seminars and meeting which are aimed at sensitizing disabled women on the importance of sports,” he added.
”The aim of those seminars and meetings are to encourage women to be involved in sporting activities,” he noted.
Dandi who is now TPC president further said they will start with schools before reaching family level and he is hopeful that the civic education will make many female disabled people love sports.
He pleaded with the public not to discourage or frustrate women with disabilities from engaging in sporting activities, saying nowadays sports are a source of income.
“We know that there are cultural and mindset barriers which hinder people with disabilities, especially women from engaging in sports, we are geared to change that mindset,” he disclosed.
“Sports have a rehabilitative influence, not only on the physical body, but the mind as well. Moreover, sport teaches independence while encouraging team work,” he revealed.
”They can be a space where those with and without disabilities can equally participate, demonstrating what real inclusion looks like to those who would try and keep them segregated,” he said.
