Sports in Bahrain have come a long way, what with the development of several sectors that ensure the inclusivity of all athletes on our island. With that being said, we need to continue to do our part in shedding light on the initiatives still unknown to most of us.
On this week’s episode, we sat down with Ahmed Al Khalifa, Executive Director of the Bahrain Deaf Sports Association
Founded by Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed bin Duaij Al Khalifa and operating under the Bahrain Paralympic Committee – alongside the Bahrain Sports Federation for Disabilities – the Bahrain Deaf Sports Association serves as a national team for hearing impaired athletes in our Kingdom.
The association comprises of about 70 athletes on the team, competing both nationally and internationally. We talked to Ahmed about the development of the association itself and all the beautiful people responsible for helping it grow to be as vast as it is today.
The focus here remains on the fact that this organization exists to encourage the deaf community in Bahrain
Following the inactivity of the Bahrain Deaf Sports Committee, the association was established to give athletes with hearing impairment a podium in sports. The athletes were briefly playing under the Bahrain Sports Federation for Disabilities, but now perform under the association.
What everyone should keep in mind is that these athletes are FULLY ABLE. There is no hindrance to their performance or their capabilities, and they play quite remarkably.
Before all else, this association is about community
Ahmed was sure to mention that it is not a one man show. There are many people behind the scenes, from admin to coaches to players that are involved in the conception of the platform.
And, when the dust settles and the pandemic-aura subsides, the Deaf Sports Association will be able to take in even more athletes and participate in many more games!
Listen to the full ‘Local X Local’ podcast below:
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