 organized the 2024 Sports for Persons with Disability (SPWD) in Gaborone from June 5 to June 7){kind=link}
Botswana: The African Union Sports Council (AUSC) organized the 2024 Sports for Persons with Disability (SPWD). The event is being hosted in the Capital of Botswana, Gaborone from the 5-7 June 2024.
The regional sporting event for the benefit of the persons with disability as attended by a variety of members of the African Sports Fraternity. The Ministry of Youth Gender Sports and Culture shared that the event was attended by several regional, continental and international guests.
The theme of the event is, “Inclusion Revolution” which welcomed the members of 10 National Olympic Committes, Sport for Development Organizations, various sport commissions and councils.
The Ministry shared some glimpses from the three day initiative on the official social media account of the Ministry. The Deputy Permanent Secretary Libraries, Archieves, Arts and Culture Tebogo Matebesi delivered the keynote address at the event.
He was filling in for the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture Tumiso Rakgare. Deputy PS Matebesi noted that “As the government of Botswana, we are committed to creating inclusive, cohesive and accessible societies.”
The commitment of the administration is clear from the country’s National Sports Development Plan. Further, DPS Matebesi said the overall goal of the country under the thematic area of Social Upliftment in NDP 10 and 11 and beyond is to achieve a dignified life for all citizens.
The government is working towards that mandate through the delivery of programmes and projects that ensure the upliftment of economically marginalized, as well as socially vulnerable.
For his part AUSC Coordinator Dr Hibakwa Chipande revealed that the purpose of this convention is to among others:
– Review the Lilongwe Declaration and determine the uptake of its outcomes
– Review the 5 pillars of the regional action plan
– Develop strategies to deal with contemporary issues currently affecting people living with disability.
– Develop a reviewed regional Sport for People Living with Disabilities action plan.
The three day convention being hosted in Gaborone aims to bring together stakeholders from the sport fraternity at a platform aimed at fostering networking, skills and idea sharing and forging a way forward with regard to the inclusion of People Living With Disability, thus fostering an Inclusion Revolution.