Sports Festivals encourage individuals with special needs

Sports Festival participants in Thatta, Sindh take part in the opening procession. Photo: Courtesy Aga Khan Social Welfare Board for Pakistan.

According to a study by the World Health Organisation, over 600 million people around the world are believed to have disabilities in their physical, intellectual, emotional or social development. Furthermore, 80% of these individuals live in developing countries where their needs are often underserved. This leads to economic and educational disparities as well as societal marginalisation. However, developing countries are increasingly adopting the United Nations guidelines on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and this compliance is leading to the implementation of programmes which support individuals with special needs.

The Aga Khan Social Welfare Board for Pakistan (AKSWBP), launched an initiative nearly 20 years ago to help individuals with special needs lead more fulfilling lives. It is the Board’s belief that all individuals have the right and the ability to learn and work towards personal satisfaction. In an ongoing effort to encourage positive changes in society's attitudes towards those with special needs the Board has launched a series of six Sports Festivals in urban and rural areas across Pakistan including in Chitral, the Northern Areas, Punjab and Sindh. The Festivals aim to recognise the talents and abilities of special needs individuals, as well as to ensure their participation in the Golden Jubilee year celebrations. The festivals include sporting activities and choreographed athletic moves designed to highlight the importance and benefits of physical fitness to the participants and their families.

Demonstrating talents during a choreographed acrobatic routine at the Lahore, Punjab games. Photo: Courtesy Aga Khan Social Welfare Board for Pakistan.

The first Sports Festival was held in Garam Chashma, Chitral in July 2007, where more than 150 individuals with special needs participated in a series of games, including 50-metre and 100-metre races, obstacle and relay races, and tug of war. This colourful occasion was attended by more than 6 500 people from across the region. A para-glider swooped in from the skies amidst cheers and laughter to kick off the games, followed by the lighting of a torch and a procession of Festival participants across the grounds. The games were formally declared open by Amir Afzal Bulbul Taj, President of the Regional Ismaili Council for Upper Chitral. Iqbaluddin Shahadat, Chairman of AKSWBP’s Committee for Chitral welcomed the participants, their families and guests to the event. He highlighted the aims of the event as well as future programmes planned by the AKSWBP. As families and guests enjoyed the traditional music and cultural programmes that complemented the event, participants eagerly awaited their turn to demonstrate their sportsmanship.

Using martial arts, a young participant breaks a concrete slab at the event in Thatta, Sindh. Photo: Courtesy Aga Khan Social Welfare Board for Pakistan.

Events held in other locales saw similar festivities with a large audience turnout. The second Festival, held in Booni, Chitral, was attended by over 8 500 people who cheered-on the participants.

In Thatta, Sindh over 2 700 people watched the 150 participants from Karachi and across the province take part in the festival. In addition to playing games, participants at the Sindh Festival also performed acrobatic tricks, karate and physical training routines, and enjoyed a beautiful fireworks display during the closing ceremonies.

The fourth event, in Punjab’s historic city of Lahore, attracted over 1 200 spectators who watched over 100 participants engage in sporting activities, marching formation exercises, acrobatics, and karate displays. The fifth and sixth events are to be held in the Gilgit and Hunza regions as well as the Ishkoman and Puniyal regions of Pakistan in the spring of 2008.

The sporting events have provided participants with an opportunity to increase their involvement in physical fitness activities, demonstrate courage, experience joy and strengthen their friendships. Abdul Rehman, a participant from Kuragh, Upper Chitral was exuberant: "I have been looking forward to participating in this Golden Jubilee event. During the practice sessions, and now, I feel very good to see so many people cheering for us." The Festivals infused a sense of community and spirited competition in the participants, who relished being cheered on by the crowd as they performed. These sporting events also highlighted the unique needs and rights of people with special needs in society. Families of the participants were especially touched. With tears in his eyes, Karim Madad Jan, a parent from Rech, Upper Chitral, remarked that “the Social Welfare Board has given a re-birth to my son, Shah Nawaz. Such events and activities have given Jamati members with special needs the courage to come out of their homes and see the world.”

Participants engage in a lively game at the Festival in Booni, Chitral. Photo: Courtesy Aga Khan Social Welfare Board for Pakistan.

Many of the participants in these Festivals, encouraged by their performance and the support of the community, are now looking to make their mark elsewhere. Hundreds of individuals have registered with the AKSWBP in Karachi and are actively engaged in athletic training and sports, including participation in the Special Olympics Pakistan and various city, national and international level events. Some of these individuals have excelled and hope to continue to raise the profile of those with special needs in Pakistan.

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