The first ever Paralympics Day to celebrate sports for people with disabilities was held in Thimphu today. Her Royal Highness Princess Eeuphelma Choden Wangchuck graced the event.
More than 300 participants took part in the event playing unique sports from sitting volleyball for wheelchair users to football for visually impaired people.
Bhutan Paralympics Committee organised the event to promote and advocate the Paralympics movement in the country.
The committee says they intend to make sports fully accessible to people living with impairments.
“It is to provide a platform for our differently-abled youth to learn and participate in the different sports like today. Also, to get the community, the government, the federations and all the able-bodied children to play sports in an integrated manner,” Sonam Karma Tshering, the Interim Secretary General of Bhutan Paralympics Committee, said.
With the motto, “Come out and play”, the committee also plans to eliminate social stigma towards people with disabilities through sports.
“There is a tacit stigma attached to disability in Bhutan. With the help of our media partners, we want to advocate the Paralympics movement and bring down those barriers so that our disabled youth, our disabled participants will no longer hide inside their home but come out and play,” Sonam Karma Tshering
“It’s very difficult for the visually impaired and wheelchair users to get such opportunities in Bhutan, since we don’t have the facilities. But today, our policymakers, politicians and the community will know that the sports for disabled do exist,” Sanga Dorji, one of the participants, said.
As part of the event, Her Royal Highness Princess Eeuphelma Choden Wangchuck also awarded recognition certificates to the medalists of Special Olympics held in Abu Dhabi this year.
A founder of SEISA group of company,Yasuo Miyazawa, was also awarded the recognition certificate as an honorary advisor to the President of the Bhutan Olympic Committee, His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck.
The company has so far contributed sports equipment and scholarships to BOC athletes.
