The African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 has announced plans to introduce a mandatory minimum participation quota in sports for people with disabilities at the 2028 Region 5 Youth Games. This move aims to promote inclusion in sports and ensure that each member country fully embraces disability sports. The announcement was made by AUSC Region 5 Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Mutoya, during a meeting in Maputo, Mozambique.
The introduction of the disability sports quota is a significant step towards promoting inclusion in sports, as currently, only three disability sports categories are available for competition in the upcoming 2026 Region 5 Youth Games. These categories include athletics for the visually impaired, wheelchair athletics, and special Olympics athletics. The limited availability of disability sports categories has been a challenge in advancing disability sports in the region.
AUSC Region 5 Sports for People with Disabilities (SPWD) Committee Chairman, James Chiutsi, has welcomed the new direction, citing the challenges faced in advancing disability sports. Chiutsi, who is also the president of Disability Sports Malawi (DSM) and Malawi Paralympic Committee (MPC), noted that disability sports are often the first to be cut when countries face budget issues for the Region 5 Youth Games.
The new quota system is expected to address some of the challenges faced by disability sports in the region. According to Chiutsi, the move will help ensure that disability sports are not compromised when countries trim their teams due to budget constraints. This development has been praised by various stakeholders, including researchers and facilitators who work on promoting inclusion in sports.
Jessica Noske-Turner, a researcher and facilitator involved in the “Making Noise” campaign under the Para Sport Against Stigma project, has commended AUSC Region 5 for its commitment to promoting inclusion in sports. Noske-Turner noted that policies promoting sports for people with disabilities often face numerous obstacles and that AUSC Region 5's efforts will be a milestone once implemented.
The implementation of the disability sports quota is set to begin with the 2028 Region 5 Youth Games. AUSC Region 5 is committed to ensuring that its member countries fully embrace inclusion in sports. The regional body has taken a significant step towards promoting disability sports, and stakeholders are eagerly awaiting the commencement of the process.
The move by AUSC Region 5 has been praised by various stakeholders, who believe that it will help promote inclusion in sports and provide opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sports. The introduction of the disability sports quota is a significant development in the region and is expected to have a positive impact on disability sports.
Key points
- AUSC Region 5 to introduce mandatory disability sports quota from 2028 Youth Games
- The quota system aims to promote inclusion in sports and address challenges faced by disability sports
- The move has been praised by stakeholders, including researchers and disability sports advocates
