Playgrounds for the disabled: Need proper attention!

(Baonghean) - People with disabilities integrate and have equality with society, which is reflected in their rights and being given the opportunity to participate in all activities of social life, including physical education and sports activities. However, in reality, in our province, facilities such as playgrounds, training grounds, and specialized sports equipment for people with disabilities have not received due attention, making their spiritual life and physical training activities face many difficulties.

For decades, people in Ha Huy Tap ward (Vinh city) have been familiar with the image of a man with difficulty walking but still carrying rackets and shuttlecocks to the badminton court every afternoon to compete with everyone. That is Mr. Thai Khac Hoang, a 2/4 disabled veteran in Trung Hoa block, Ha Huy Tap ward. Over 70 years old, partially disabled in both arms and legs, walking with a limp, but on the badminton court, he is surprisingly agile and flexible! Whether it is attacking, defending, hitting the ball... playing doubles or singles, he can do it all. In 1973, he returned to his hometown and studied at the Pedagogical University, then became a Literature teacher at Vinh High School (now Huynh Thuc Khang High School). When he received the retirement decision, he took on the role of President of the Ha Huy Tap Ward Education Promotion Association, and for the past 3 years, he has also held the position of President of the Vinh City Association for the Disabled. Busy with personal and public work, but in the role of manager of the disabled people's association, he always promotes exemplary behavior in all activities, wishing to change the community's perception of the ability of the disabled to integrate and encourage the disabled to overcome their inferiority complex, live happily and usefully. Mr. Thai Khac Hoang said: "I always keep in mind to be a leading example in all fields, starting from simple things like physical activities and sports. I often participate in badminton, mountain biking... I'm used to playing sports, if I take a day off, I miss that day!"

Mr. Thai Khac Hoang in Trung Hoa block, Ha Huy Tap ward (Vinh city) practices badminton.

Because of his passion for sports, he overcame his inferiority complex about his disability and tried to integrate with everyone. However, most playgrounds and training grounds are designed according to the standards for normal people, so it was difficult for disabled people like him to adapt. On the other hand, in the beginning of his training, he encountered many difficulties due to discrimination from some people. "They did not say it directly, but looking at their eyes and the way they served the shuttlecock in an aggressive manner as if they wanted to challenge me, I knew. But only at first, later on, my will convinced them" - Mr. Thai Khac Hoang shared. Not only playing badminton, but every afternoon, from his house in Trung Hoa hamlet, he leisurely rode his mountain bike with his old friends to Vinh airport. That 10km round trip not only helped him improve his health but also became a spiritual medicine to help him overcome his illness and move forward in life.

But not all disabled people have a strong will to integrate into the community sports movement like Mr. Thai Khac Hoang. Most disabled people in the province have not yet overcome the barrier of inferiority complex, on the other hand, there are almost no playgrounds or training grounds designed according to standards specifically for the disabled. According to statistics from the Provincial Association for the Protection of Disabled People and Orphans, the whole province has more than 200,000 disabled people, and only a few of them participate in sports activities, scattered in some districts such as Quynh Luu, Tan Ky, Anh Son... Mr. Nguyen Hai Thanh, Chairman of the Provincial Association for the Protection of Disabled People and Orphans, said: "The main reason is the lack of funding to invest in building separate sports facilities for the disabled. Therefore, although knowing this is a real need, and has a positive impact on their spiritual life, the associations at all levels are "powerless".

In April 2011, Vinh City People's Committee inaugurated and put into use the Vinh City Center for Disabled People's Activities, located on an area of ​​nearly 3,500 m2 in Ngu Loc hamlet, Hung Loc commune (Vinh City). This is the first and so far only model of physical activities for disabled people in Vinh City in particular and the whole province in general, with a badminton court and running track dedicated to disabled people. At that time, the project brought good news and excitement to the disabled community in the city because of the hope of having their own special playground, helping them to exercise, increase communication and sharing in the disabled community. Unfortunately, the project has not been completed due to lack of investment capital for construction, and limitations in organization and management, so it has not attracted disabled people to practice. Currently, the center for the disabled in Vinh City. Vinh is being abandoned, and people with disabilities in the city in particular and the province in general are still struggling to find a sports playground for themselves.

Looking at the provinces such as Quang Tri, Hue, Dong Nai... or more strongly, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, we can see that the physical education and sports movement for people with disabilities is given due attention. In addition to playgrounds and training grounds that meet standards, the provinces also build teams of disabled athletes in typical sports, representing the province to compete and achieve high results at sports competitions for people with disabilities at all levels. All comparisons are lame, but we think that in order for people with disabilities in the province to actively participate in physical education and sports movements, thereby actively integrating into the community, the Association for the Protection of People with Disabilities at all levels needs to coordinate with related sectors such as Sports and Physical Training, Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to actively implement many activities with rich content, advise on the issuance of policies and solutions to promote physical education and sports activities for people with disabilities; At the same time, promote socialization in organizations, businesses and individuals to establish sports clubs for people with disabilities and organize tournaments for people with disabilities.

Phuong Chi