Doha: The Qatar Olympic Academy concluded a course focused on the integration of people with disabilities into physical education classes. This initiative is part of a series of courses organized by the Academy to support members of the sports, educational, and medical sectors. Over a span of five days, forty students from various Arab countries, involved in sports, academic, and administrative specialties, participated in the course.
According to Qatar News Agency, the course was organized in collaboration with the West Asia Paralympic Federation, under a cooperation agreement between the Academy and the Federation. The objective was to develop and qualify professionals in the sports, academic, and professional arenas, with a particular focus on sports for people with disabilities. The Qatar Sports Federation for Special Needs provided logistical support, offering facilities equipped to meet the training needs of participants.
The course featured expert insights from Dr. Omar Handawi, a Professor of Sports
Rehabilitation at Hashemite University in Jordan. Participants explored various topics, including understanding disabilities and their types, integration steps in schools, and transitioning from integration to inclusion. Etiquette in interacting with people with disabilities, especially in sports, was also reviewed. Furthermore, the course detailed the concept of sports training for people with disabilities and methods for preparing specialized training units.
The program also covered the use of devices and tools in sports for people with disabilities, as well as strategies for organizing training work and ensuring the success of sports training programs. Khalil Al Jaber, Executive Director of the Qatar Olympic Academy, expressed satisfaction with the course’s outcomes. He highlighted plans to establish a special diploma program in this specialty, emphasizing ongoing efforts to develop its academic content and secure necessary accreditations. Additionally, future courses are planned to cater to specific cate
gories, notably the autism category.