On June 27, 2011 RI attended the Lunch Event on Sports, Disability and Development - Key to Empowering Persons with Disabilities and Their Communities, at the United Nations.
The lunch event highlighted the important role of sport as a tool for empowerment and inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs). During the event the report on Harnessing the Power of Sport for Development and Peace: Recommendations for Governments put out by the Sport for Development & Peace International Working Group, was made available. This report specifically addresses the topic of sports and PWDs in Chapter 5 and can be accessed by following this link to the UN website.
RI commends the report for its recommendations that governments develop inclusive sports programs, involving PWDs in the design, planning and implementation stages and calls for addressing barriers to full participation. RI has been working through its Commission on Leisure, Recreation and Physical Activities to promote the inclusion of PWDs in sports and recreation. The Commission strives to help communities and governments recognize the benefits of participation of PWDs in sports by stressing the importance of inclusion not only for the individual but for the community as a whole. Inclusive sports help to break stigmas, foster cooperation, showcase the capability of PWDs and promote integration all of which lead to greater inclusion and community development. It also strengthens the self-confidence as well as social and physical capabilities of PWDs. In addition, RI is proud of its work with the Paralympics and Abilympics committees to both help support the games and to promote the rights of the athletes.
RI would like to stress that all implementation of the recommendations in this report must be done in conjunction with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), particularly Article 30: Participation in Cultural Life, Recreation, Leisure and Sport.
For more information on the UN event, the report or the RI Commission, including RI's role in the promotion of sports and recreation as a tool for empowerment and inclusion of PWDs, please contact us at Denne e-postadressen er beskyttet mot programmer som samler e-postadresser. Du må aktivere JavaScript for å kunne se adressen , or visit the RI website at www.riglobal.org.
