Authorities saddled with sporting activities across the country have been urged to ensure that physically challenged Athletes are given their dues in terms of remunerations and other incentives that would encourage them to give their best at all times.
Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade ll said this during the visit of members of the Nigeria Blind Sport Association to him in his Alarere Palace on Sunday.
Olubadan, who expressed delight at the performance of the athletes from Oyo State at the recently held Paralympics in Abuja said “physically challenged athletes proved to the whole world that their disability was not an hindrance to put into use what their creator deposits in them and the minimum irreducible the government can do is to give them encouragement.
“In the developed world, nobody, irrespective of the physical physiology or whatever is considered useless and unfit
Hence, the environment over there creates conducive space for each and everyone to function according to his or her capacity and that’s why you see everybody making contributions to their society without let or hindrance.
“We, as a country should borrow a leaf from them over there by ensuring that we give necessary encouragement to our disabled, not only those in athletics, but in all human endeavours towards making life meaningful and worth living for them. The goal ball match demonstrated this afternoon was unique and deserves attention towards listing it among future Paralympics events”, Olubadan stated further.
The National Coordinator of the association, Mr. Muyiwa Fatogun expressed gratitude to the monarch for the privilege given to the association to visit him, saying that if all the people in exalted positions are like Kabiyesi, the plights of the physically challenged in the society would be greatly reduced.
Speaking in the same vein, the Oyo State Coordinator of the association, Mr. Kayode Dada, who also doubles as Coach for goal ball and blind soccer said the members of the association have great potentials that could enhance the medals’ haul of Oyo contingents in any competition that involves the disabled.
Adewumi Faniran/Olaolu Fawole
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