The National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) of Zambia, Lesotho, Namibia,
Botswana and Zimbabwe signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Regional Training Camp in Lusaka,
Zambia which aims to strengthen the Paralympic Movement in Southern Africa.
The IPC camp, which ran from 3-8 October, brought together almost 50
athletes, coaches and administrators from the five NPCs to share knowledge
and ideas.
Sponsored by the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and
Confederation of Sports (NIF) and Charity and Sport, delegates had the
opportunity to attend a series of workshops and sports training sessions.
The NPCs used the opportunity to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for
South to South Cooperation, which covers training, competitions, awareness
raising and government lobbying.
They agreed to co-operate by exchanging training programmes for leadership,
coaches and classifiers. In addition they will exchange competition
programmes in Athletics, Powerlifting, Wheelchair Basketball, Goalball,
Sitting Volleyball and Swimming.
In the memorandum, the NPCs also committed to "promote independent living
among the disabled through entrepreneurship skills development; share
relevant information on the development of sports for the disabled; and
embark on awareness campaigns of sport for persons with disabilities in
rural areas."
A key aspect of the memorandum was also to jointly exert pressure on their
respective governments to provide financial support and tax relief, make all
sports venues accessible to persons with a disability and increase influence
and recognition for Paralympic Sport at government level.
"The five National Paralympic Committees also agreed to urge their
governments to include members of the National Paralympic Committees in all
government sports-related committees and international conferences" and
"employ full-time employees with knowledge of disability sports in the
Directorate of Sport," the agreement read.
For more information, contact: craig.spence@paralympic.org
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