The National Disability Strategy of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

 Sports, Recreation and Culture

Sports, Recreation and Culture:

3.10.1- Role:

Experts believe that individual and team sports play an important role in developing and building the physical and behavioural capacities, as well as impacting the ability to adapt, mature and socialize for persons with disabilities. The International Year of Disabled Persons announced by the United Nations in 1981 was considered an important milestone in world attention to disability. It was in this year that the Jordanian Union for Disabled Sports was established.

This target area aims at attaining sustained physical, psychological and social adjustment of people with disabilities and building their confidence in themselves, their abilities and skills, helping them gain physical and professional mobility through sports and cultural activities.

3.10-2- Limitations and difficulties:

§  The lack of public information through the media aimed at highlighting the capabilities of persons with disabilities and their athletic potential and charting their activities with regard to competitions and championships at the local, regional and international levels.

§  The shortfall in integrating persons with disabilities in sports facilities, courts, parks and public libraries and cultural centers.

§  The  shortfall in funding and covering expenses of regular sporting activities of clubs, associations and cultural institutions and in supporting the participation of persons with disabilities in regional and international championships, forums and cultural events.

§  The lack of strong participation by women with disabilities in sports activities, and cultural and recreational programs.

§  Weakness in the involvement of families of persons with disabilities and volunteers in the activities and programs offered by the institutions responsible for disabled sports.

3.10.3- Proposed policies and initiatives:  

1.     Encouraging physical education departments in universities and colleges to introduce physical education and sports for persons with disabilities as a discipline.

2.     Providing media coverage for the participation of persons with disabilities who have obtained titles or medals in local, regional and international sporting competitions, and drawing attention to their heroic accomplishments.

3.     Holding a telethon with the aim of publicizing disabled sports and raising funds.

4.     Encouraging the integration of athletes with disabilities with their non-disabled counterparts in centers, clubs and public sports facilities.

5.     Developing measures for accessible sports environments to facilitate the entry and participation of persons with disabilities in recreation, sport and culture arenas.

6.     Securing opportunities for persons with disabilities to utilize their creative, artistic and intellectual potential.

3.10.4- Main programs proposed:  

1.     Establish sports clubs for persons with disabilities in the provinces where there are no such clubs or sports facilities or in facilities owned by official and voluntary bodies.

2.     Encourage the integration of children and persons with disabilities with their non-disabled counterparts in sports, youth centers, public facilities and sports and scout camps.

3.     Provide publications on tape for blind persons in all libraries of public and private Jordanian universities as well as municipal libraries nationwide.

4.     Provide programs for the participation of volunteers to work in all activities and sports and recreation programs for persons with disabilities and document their engagements through a database, and recognize their role at annual events.

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