Three days before the country hosts the Special Olympics Malta Invitational Games 2022, Special Olympics Malta organized a forum called ‘Educators’ Forum’ with the aim of discussing the inclusion of people and children with disabilities through sport.
In her message, the President of Special Olympics Malta Dr Lydia Abela said that our aspiration is all the quality of life of children with disabilities and their families. In the presence of representatives of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, SOEE, foreign and local experts in the field of sport and social inclusion, sports educators and students, Dr Abela said that everyone should have the an opportunity to choose where he wants to go in his life especially in education and sports. She emphasized that sport has a unique way of teaching us equality, discipline, perseverance, respect, and above all, inclusion. Dr. Abela said that the education system of our country offers educators specialized in many different skills. However, we need to do more, strive harder, so that no child is left behind.
An exercise conducted by Special Olympics Malta during which they evaluated the type of physical education being provided to children with disabilities revealed that not everyone was aware of the wide range of programs offered by Special Olympics Malta and Sport Malta. As a result, more awareness has been raised that more programs will reach more children. Here, Dr Abela stressed that there is a need for more training for Maltese educators with the aim of giving more students an inclusive education and leaving results.
SOEE Regional President and Managing Director David Evangelista, in a message to the forum, thanked Malta for all its efforts to host these games and stressed that the most fruitful discussion. it is precisely this forum as it diversifies all experiences and will lead to better, stronger and more inclusive communities. The forum was also addressed by various SOEE representatives specializing in training and resources, the inclusion of athletes, partnerships with various universities for greater participation in sport, as well as by Maltese professionals.
