Disability Focus at International Doha Forum

Said Sir Philip: “The new facilities here in Doha, Qatar, are a remarkable leap forward for the Qatar Paralympic Committee. It will most definitely provide a successful future for the athletes in the country, region, Asia and the rest of the world."

The forum, which had a busy schedule filled with discussions, presentations, and cultural offerings, saw a list of attendees from the Paralympic community including International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven, IPC Honorary Board Member and Chairperson of the Shafallah Centre for Children with Special Needs Hassan Ali Bin Ali, and Paralympian Ambassadors Chris Waddell and Hou Bin.

Waddell, who has won multiple medals in Alpine Skiing, moderated a discussion on “ Entrepreneurial Opportunities and Innovative Supports for Persons with a Disability”. The discussion was attended by experts around the world, including Founder of TecAccess Debra Ruh, a company which aims at making the world of technology accessible to everyone.

Other presentations and discussions included themes such as “Promoting Inclusion for People with a Disability”, “Preparing Students with a Disability to Transition into Post-Secondary Activities”, and “Digital Accessibility and Independent Living in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”. The UN Convention on Rights for Persons with Disabilities was introduced unanimously in 2006 by the delegates of the 192 UN Member Nations and recognizes that persons with a disability have the right to participate in sporting activities with a choice between mainstream and disability-specific programmes.

Just one day prior to the Shafallah Forum on 19 April, the new headquarters for the Qatar Paralympic Committee (QPC) was inaugurated in Doha. IPC President Sir Philip Craven also attended the inauguration ceremony along with members of the Qatar Paralympic Committee, and Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. In addition to a tour of the administration offices, gymnasium hall, and athlete facilities, Sir Philip together with Sheikh Saoud unveiled the memorial plaque of the building.

Said Sir Philip: “The new facilities here in Doha, Qatar, are a remarkable leap forward for the Qatar Paralympic Committee. It will most definitely provide a successful future for the athletes in the country, region, Asia and the rest of the world. This is further evidence that the Paralympic Movement continues to grow and inspiration to achieve sporting excellence is alive and well here in Qatar.”