SPECIAL OLYMPICS REPORT : Special Olympics Games have ended

It has been nine days of emotions, joy and exciting competition.

By the last day, only seven sports were active: final competitions in basketball, tennis, cycling, athletics, and equestrian as well as the last action in gymnastics (demonstration program) and badminton (award ceremony).

Some competitions had to be pushed to the final day due to heavy rains experienced on Friday. Everyone was accommodated in the World Games; from under eight years that were playing at the Young Athletes halls, to adults trying to win prizes at the non-competition sites, to the actual athletes in the competition venues, and in every gathering, there was sign language interpretation.

The non-competition sports areas were also open on the final day for the public to engage in physical activity as the countdown to the closing ceremony that was held later that day was ongoing.

The exuberant closing ceremony co-hosted by Dale Moss, Global Ambassador of SO and former NFL player, was held at the historic Brandenburg Gate instead of the Olympic Stadium, giving the delegates a piece of Berlin culture.

Other events during the Games such as the Games festival and athlete’s party were also held at the Brandenburg Gate. The Gate which used to be surrounded by walls, now without walls symbolises freedom and the desire to unify the city of Berlin, and therefore, an appropriate venue the largest inclusive sporting event.

After the musical programme, the official part followed among other things being closing remarks, the handing over of the flag to the Mayor of Turin, Italy, Stefano Lo Russo as the next host of the Games, the solemn quenching of the flame, and a grand finale of fireworks display accompanied by large cheering from the crowd.

About 100 000 tickets were sold during the competition and hopefully the success of the 16th Special Olympics Games leaves a lasting impression and boosts Germany’s chances of potentially hosting the 2036 Olympics and Paralympics Games, 100 years after the 1936 Nazi Olympics.

Earlier in the week, Special Olympics announced the formation of the Global Leadership Coalition for Inclusion, a multilateral effort by governments, industry leaders, and philanthropists to support people with intellectual disabilities and promote inclusive practices in education and sport.

Ministers of Sports from different countries were present in the events, with a record 11 countries from Africa represented. Five African countries - South Africa, Kenya, Angola, Seychelles, and Ghana - were also ready to sign their governments to the Global Coalition for Inclusion pledge.

These are some of the countries doing well in terms of disability sport in Africa that perhaps Botswana can benchmark from. The countries that signed the Inclusion pledge also had the largest representation of government officials.

Kenya was accompanied by their second lady, Her Excellency Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, and South Africa represented by Hon. Hendrietta Bogopane Zulu, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Social Development & Dr Mathews Phosa, Chairman,

Special Olympics South Africa in addition to Hon. Zizi Kodwa, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture.

This goes to prove that the tone is set at the top, and if our leaders do not show up for our people, nothing will move at the ground. It is high time that the same support afforded the Olympic athletes in Botswana be afforded athletes with disability, after all this is demanded by UN Convention that we ratified and our Vision 2036.

Issues of inclusion need to be at the top of the President’s agenda. Special Olympics South Africa has a team of about 11 full-time employees, not to mention the South Africa Federation for Disability Sport, while disability sports in Botswana is just served by volunteers.

Maybe it is time the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture establishes disability sport secretariat while we are still looking into establishing independent Deaf Sports, Paralympics, and Special Olympics offices as these organisations often find themselves in limbo as they do not necessarily belong anywhere with the current structure since they cannot be served by Botswana National Olympic Committee.

Subsequently, disability sport needs to establish a healthy relationship with the media to improve coverage of their events and increase visibility that will expose them to relevant stakeholders that can be of service to them and help to grow the movement in Botswana.

Furthermore, they should also strategically recruit key industry players to help with the growth of the movement. We need more hands on deck to grow this sector.