Inclusive Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth games for the paraplegic athletes is also being conducted along with rest of the events. It was in 2002 at Manchester for the first time that games for athletes with a disability were conducted for the first time. This is perhaps the best example of Inclusion of Persons with a Disability (PWDs) into society.

Para games are being held in 15 events at Delhi 2010. Since awarding Delhi the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Commonwealth games Federation and International Paralympics Committee (IPC) have established a list of 4 core Para-Sports: Athletics, Lawn Bowls, Powerlifting and Swimming.

I got a first hand feel of this Inclusion at Ahmedabad while interacting with a few girls with a physical disability while doing research for my film on Inclusion “Hamare Saath Chalon”. The Girls were training for the women’s wheelchair table tennis event of the CWG2010 at the Blind People’s Association centre. Their enthusiasm knew no bounds as they displayed their skills picking up difficult serves and smashing the ball across. One day perhaps they would even compete in the open category!

Infact having paralympics is one of the core activities of many organizations working with PWDs. For example Amarjyoti Charitable Trust which runs Inclusive schools and medical facilities for PWDs at Delhi and Gwalior. They even organize and participate in this event at the national level. Sports is important for all round development of children and young adults.

But how far has the infrastructure which was built for CWG2010 been made inclusive. Can PWDs, for example those using a wheel chair or those with low vision, or even those with sight disability, can they comfortably reach inside any of the venues. In fact anyone who is not young and sturdy cannot get inside the stadia without discomfort. What with having to walk for miles to get inside because of security reasons and apparently there not being a totally barrier free environment at any of venues, I don’t think any PWDs or even senior citizens, pregnant women and children can get access easily to these world class venues.

In fact our society is hardly barrier free (atleast in India) the hi tech infrstructure being built in the metro cities actually caters to only 10 per cent of the total population. This is because only 10 percent consists of the young and healthy. Anyone well into their 30s is categorised as a person with reduced mobility and will join the rest 90 percent, who find climbing stairs a uphill task or reading signage a problem because of blurred vision, many may even find such large structures like stadiums, Shopping malls, airports etc as disorienting.

PWDs dream of a society where they would be able to have access to a totally barrier free environment and move around unaided, and lead independent and fulfilling lives. This would go a long way in including 90 percent of our population and ensuring no one gets left out!