The Regeneration Of Disabled Athletes Can Be Hampered, This Is The Reason

Sports Seminar Disabilities Ministry Of Youth and Sports In Yogyakarta. (Gonang Susatyo)

JAKARTA - Regeneration of athletes with disabilities can be a problem and experience obstacles. Lack of support from parents or families makes talented young athletes never appear as revealed in the Sports Seminar with the Disabilities of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Yogyakarta.

Regeneration of athletes is a challenge for the National Paralympic Committee (NPC). The implementation of the National Paralympic Week (Peparnas) which has ended in Solo has indeed raised a number of young athletes who will become the backbone on the Southeast Asia, Asia and Paralympic stages.

However, young athletes must continue to emerge because of regeneration. The problem is that there are big obstacles that make it difficult for the emergence of a new generation of disabled athletes. Parents or families of disabled children who actually have potential in one sport rarely support their children to achieve achievements.

"Especially because parents feel ashamed to admit the whereabouts of their children with disabilities. This is one of the biggest challenges and is a major obstacle. Moreover, there is a bad stigma experienced by children with disabilities," said Dr. Rumpis Agus Sudarko, MS, a lecturer at the Department of Sports Training, FIKK UNY who is also the Head of the NPC Achievement Development Division DIY in a seminar entitled 'The Challenge to Build Sports Habits in Children with Disabilities', Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

It was felt by Rumpis himself who had a disabled child. Even he got accusations that were very baseless.

"When someone found out that my child was a disabled person, I was considered to have sacrificed my child to become a victim of a parent who was looking for pesugihan," said Rumpis in response to a strong stigma against disabled children. This is what makes parents embarrassed to display their children who have special needs to develop and achieve achievements.

"Not a few parents don't want to show their children with disabilities. So we have to fight the stigma experienced by children with disabilities. So far, people have shaken them," he said.

"We just held Peparnas in Solo. I am really impressed with the people of Solo who do not give bad stigma to athletes with disabilities. In fact, they are very enthusiastic about watching matches and giving appreciation for the athletes' struggles," he said, encouraging parents to give children with disabilities the opportunity to achieve achievements in the field of sports.

"There are so many benefits of exercising for people with disabilities. Exercise will make people with disabilities healthy, also increase endurance, and fitness. From a social perspective, exercise helps social inclusion because it will reduce the stigma sometimes experienced by people with disabilities," said Rumpis.

"From an economic perspective, even people with disabilities who excel in the field of sports can earn income after competing to become champions. More importantly, exercise will train children with disabilities to become more independent," he said.

The seminar is a manifestation of the Ministry of Youth and Sports' commitment to support sports inclusiveness for persons with disabilities. The seminar also aims to identify the challenges faced by parents, teachers, and the closest environment in teaching sports habits to children with disabilities. In addition, it helps provide understanding and insight into the importance of sports for children with disabilities.

The materials presented also provide practical solutions that can be applied in building sports habits in children with disabilities. They are expected to inspire and encourage cooperation between the government, educational institutions, the media, and the community in supporting sports activities in children with disabilities.

Assistant Sports Deputy for Persons with Disabilities at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ibnu Hasan, M.Pd, in his remarks at the opening of the event said that the Ministry of Youth and Sports continues to support the realization of sports inclusiveness.

"Law No. 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities guarantees that people with disabilities also get the same treatment, equality. There should no longer be a negative stigma against persons with disabilities, including sports opportunities," said Ibnu.

"The state must be present to remove that bad stigma. In addition, we must provide space for them to excel. They must get equality and togetherness so that they have the same rights. So, school is not just a place to study formally but also live," he said again.

The seminar not only presents observers who are also academics but also children with outstanding disabilities in the field of sports, Muhammad Rafi Zulfandi and Syifa Nur Arrafa. They were present with their respective parents.

Risvani, Rafi's parents who have a graphita disability, shared how environmental support has a major impact on the achievement of their children's achievements.

"The Rafi process found his talent very long. I asked him to practice taekwondo, but it was uncomfortable. I tried to swim, I also participated in basketball, handball, athletics, and badminton. I tried to keep working until Rafi found his talent. Alhamdulillah, he fits the badminton and finally excels," said Risvani.

In the future, parents, educators, and related parties will continue to support children with disabilities to always actively move and develop their potential through sports.