Inclusive sports promoted at Deaf Games

Suva, May 25 – Over 100 participants of the National Deaf Games 2017 were encouraged to play to the best of their ability and help promote inclusive sports this morning.

Permanent Secretary for Youth and Sports, Ms Alison Burchell, opened the Games at ANZ Stadium this morning and said; “We need to get our family and friends to participate to improve our mental and physical wellness and for the benefit of our waistlines. Participating together with our hearing counterparts will help breakdown stereotypes and improve standards”

“Inclusion is important and we need to change perceptions of disability and deafness. Disability is not incapacity.” said Ms Burchell.

Ms Burchell also welcomed participants from Samoa, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands together with their Fijian counterparts, who will compete in soccer, netball, rugby and volleyball.

“Your participation will promote sports, physical activity and healthy living,” Ms Burchell told the athletes.

“Fiji and the Pacific is being hit by Non-Communicable Diseases and by being active and participating in sports will improve your health and reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases.”

Ms Burchell also emphasised the need to play “fair and display true sporting behaviour during the Games.”