The public has been urged to play a leading role to encourage and support people with disabilities into active participation in sport.
This was highlighted by the Commonwealth Alumnus, Dr Kagiso Tlhabano-David, during the inaugural Para sport awareness day that was held at the UB Stadium over the weekend.
David shared that, during her assignment as the psychologist of Team Botswana during major games, she realised that there is less representation in para sport.
“As a psychologist and working with team Botswana, it really hit me that we have very few athletes with disabilities to compete at international competitions like the Olympics—I felt that we needed to do something to make sure that we are well represented,” she said.
“We know the health benefits of sports and yet we are not adapting it for people with disabilities; who are already challenged. They have to contend with challenges that come with disabilities and yet they don’t benefit from any physical activity—we have to adapt sport for people with disabilities,” David highlighted.
People with disabilities and people without disabilities converged at the University of Botswana and played in various sport disciplines as a way of encouraging inclusiveness and tolerance.
“It is not the responsibility of sporting organizations alone, it is not the responsibility of people with disabilities alone or the government, it is the responsibility of every Motswana; we live with people with disabilities, and therefore are the ones who can lookout for them and present opportunities to them,” she added.
Wheelchair boxing was also included in the event programme. Lechedzani ‘Master’ Luza, the first-ever Motswana to win a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in boxing in 2002, indicated that, wheelchair boxing is a growing sport across the globe and there is hope that in not so distant future, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will add the sport to form part of the Olympic games.
“It is really an interesting sport and it is real boxing,” Luza told Sun Sport.
“I want to encourage people with legs or spine problems to join wheelchair boxing. The challenge at the moment is that we don’t have enough wheelchairs to promote the development of the sport,” he said.
Luza added that the awareness day was imperative because there is a need to sensitize the public, government and the private sector to source support and promote tolerance for people with disabilities.
The Public Relations of Paralympics Association of Botswana (PASSOBO), Lesley Baleseng, expressed appreciation of the weekend event stating that, “PASSOBO embraces and endorses Para Sport Awareness initiative by
Dr Kagiso Tlhabano-David with much enthusiasm because it increases public knowledge about para sport and possibilities in the Paralympic movement; beyond that, it brings relevant stakeholders together and this creates opportunities for the disability and sport.”
Former 400m athletics star, Onkabetse Nkobolo graced the event and made his first public appearance after suffering a spinal injury due to a car accident in 2020 which left him wheelchair ridden.
This was highlighted by the Commonwealth Alumnus, Dr Kagiso Tlhabano-David, during the inaugural Para sport awareness day that was held at the UB Stadium over the weekend.
David shared that, during her assignment as the psychologist of Team Botswana during major games, she realised that there is less representation in para sport.
“As a psychologist and working with team Botswana, it really hit me that we have very few athletes with disabilities to compete at international competitions like the Olympics—I felt that we needed to do something to make sure that we are well represented,” she said.
“We know the health benefits of sports and yet we are not adapting it for people with disabilities; who are already challenged. They have to contend with challenges that come with disabilities and yet they don’t benefit from any physical activity—we have to adapt sport for people with disabilities,” David highlighted.
People with disabilities and people without disabilities converged at the University of Botswana and played in various sport disciplines as a way of encouraging inclusiveness and tolerance.
“It is not the responsibility of sporting organizations alone, it is not the responsibility of people with disabilities alone or the government, it is the responsibility of every Motswana; we live with people with disabilities, and therefore are the ones who can lookout for them and present opportunities to them,” she added.
Wheelchair boxing was also included in the event programme. Lechedzani ‘Master’ Luza, the first-ever Motswana to win a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in boxing in 2002, indicated that, wheelchair boxing is a growing sport across the globe and there is hope that in not so distant future, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will add the sport to form part of the Olympic games.
“It is really an interesting sport and it is real boxing,” Luza told Sun Sport.
“I want to encourage people with legs or spine problems to join wheelchair boxing. The challenge at the moment is that we don’t have enough wheelchairs to promote the development of the sport,” he said.
Luza added that the awareness day was imperative because there is a need to sensitize the public, government and the private sector to source support and promote tolerance for people with disabilities.
The Public Relations of Paralympics Association of Botswana (PASSOBO), Lesley Baleseng, expressed appreciation of the weekend event stating that, “PASSOBO embraces and endorses Para Sport Awareness initiative by
Dr Kagiso Tlhabano-David with much enthusiasm because it increases public knowledge about para sport and possibilities in the Paralympic movement; beyond that, it brings relevant stakeholders together and this creates opportunities for the disability and sport.”
Former 400m athletics star, Onkabetse Nkobolo graced the event and made his first public appearance after suffering a spinal injury due to a car accident in 2020 which left him wheelchair ridden.
