The journey of African Paralympians is filled with resilience and inspiration. Most face significant hurdles, from sourcing costly equipment to inadequate training support. Asiya, a Kenyan athlete, shares her transition from wheelchair tennis to para-rowing, showcasing her determination despite adversity. The podcast highlights the stark inequalities in resource allocation between able-bodied and para athletes. It emphasizes the urgent need for societal change and greater recognition to empower these remarkable individuals in their pursuit of excellence.
African para-athletes face significant challenges due to lack of funding and support, hindering their access to resources and training facilities.
Family support plays a crucial role in empowering individuals with disabilities, fostering confidence and resilience through engagement in sports and education.
Deep dives
The Challenges Faced by Para-Athletes
Para-athletes encounter significant obstacles in their pursuit of sports, largely stemming from insufficient support and funding. The story of Aseem Mohammed Sururah highlights the disparities that exist, as she competes in para-rowing, a sport that is not widely accessible in Kenya despite the country's numerous water bodies. Equipment costs pose a significant barrier, with a single rowing boat costing around a million Kenyan shillings, rendering it nearly impossible for local athletes to find adequate resources. This issue is compounded by a lack of training facilities and personnel, forcing athletes to rely heavily on international support for preparation and training.
The Need for Equality in Sports Support
There is a pronounced call for equal treatment of Paralympians compared to their able-bodied counterparts, particularly in terms of governmental support. Sururah stresses that while funding surge occurs during the Olympic and Paralympic events, consistent support for training and development is lacking for para-athletes outside these competitions. This inequality in treatment leads to a situation where many athletes never receive the necessary resources to train effectively, highlighting a systemic issue in the support structures for disabled athletes across Africa. The disparity extends to media coverage, which often sidelines Paralympic events, depriving athletes of visibility and recognition.
Inspiration and the Role of Family Support
Sururah's journey reflects the critical role family support plays in nurturing confidence and ambition among individuals with disabilities. Despite losing her legs at an early age, it was the unwavering encouragement from her family that propelled her to engage in sports and strive for excellence. This sentiment is echoed in her advice to parents of children with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of education and active participation in sports as vital elements for success. Sururah believes that acceptance and awareness of one’s abilities significantly enhance personal development and resilience, transforming challenges into sources of motivation.
“As a person living with disability, sport gives you the purpose and the inspiration to move on with life because when you see someone who is physically worse off than you doing better than you, you get inspired and want to do more."
The Paralympic games start today in Paris, just over two weeks after the Olympic games ended in the French Capital. Over 4,400 athletes with various forms of disabilities will be competing in 22 sports for 549 gold medals. Africa has just over 300 para athletes representing 44 countries from the continent.
Kenya’s Asiya Mohammed Sururu will be competing in para rowing, a sport not accessed by many in Africa despite the abundant natural water bodies on the continent. The 32-year-old lost both her legs after she was run over by a train at the age of two.
In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to Asiya about the challenges African para athletes face beyond their physical disabilities.
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