Page 8 - Sportability

PREFACE

he Modern School’s “Sportability” initiative is a ground-breaking attempt to bridge
the accessibility gap between sports and Persons with Disabilities (PwD). Under this
Tinitiative, Modern School’s existing sports infrastructure has been made accessible to
PwD after school hours. Since its initiation, the effort has been well recognised and welcomed
by the PwD community, and people from all over Delhi and the NCR come to the school to avail
sports facilities.

Following the programme, The Modern Institute for Education conceptualised a seminar to
highlight and discuss some challenges and successes of PwD in the arena of sports. It brought
together a wide range of award-winning athletes, coaches, professionals, and specialists from
the field of disability sports of national and international repute. During the seminar, the
efforts of numerous groups and people who have contributed significantly to uplifting the
state of disability sports were recognised and organisations and individuals were honoured
and felicitated. The panel discussion was insightful, addressing issues including government
programmes, athletes’ personal stories, and the ceaseless work of groups to promote the value
of sports for PwD.

With the compilation of the panel discussions, keynote addresses, inaugural and selected
papers, this souvenir seeks to encapsulate the spirit of the seminar. It also features interviews
with para-athletes, providing a glimpse into their experiences and the transformative power
of sports in their life. It also aims to showcase the enormous potential of disability sports
programmes and to increase awareness of the various challenges faced by PwD. We hope that it
will advocate for the significance of inclusive sports programmes and the necessity of accessible
sports facilities.

The stories in these pages celebrate abilities, encourage a sense of community and belonging
via sports, and present tales of triumph over adversity. This souvenir should be seen as both, a
call to action for more inclusion, and a testament to the perseverance and passion of Persons
with Disabilities.

Ambika Pant
Honorary Secretary, Board of Trustees
Modern School Society