Making football more diverse is a collective responsibility

Making football more diverse is a collective responsibility

Making football more diverse is a collective responsibility. A bright new crop of footballers rose to prominence at Arsenal Football Club’s home during the previous season. A similar maturing process was taking place there right now. ‘Football for All’ Leadership Program’s third graduation ceremony.

The most recent iteration of the Program began in Lisbon in October of last year with the intention of once again supplying possibilities for athletes with disabilities. Sports organizations including FIFA, UEFA, the Johan Cruyff Foundation, the Portuguese FA, Arsenal FC, and SL Benfica participated in its development, and it also received backing from prestigious academic institutions like Nova SBE and AISTS Lausanne. In the first two years, 77% of the participants found employment in the sports sector.

It makes sense why the program is so vital when considered in the following context.

•There are more than 1 billion disabled persons (15 percent of the world population).

• For disabled people nationwide, the unemployment rate ranges from 50% to 90%. The official unemployment rate for people with disabilities who are working age is at least twice that of people without disabilities in the majority of affluent countries.

• 3.5 billion people around the world, according to some sources, prefer football to all other sports. The population as a whole should therefore be represented. The sport cannot be fully inclusive unless disabled persons are employed. The program’s definite goals are to empower participants by placing them at the center of an individual project that connects sport and disability, to prepare them to become future industry leaders, to develop their competencies, and to make a lasting impact. It also aims to build a network of business professionals and encourage collaboration opportunities.

Additionally, the program helps the participants establish a personal development plan, work on tools like CV creation, boost their confidence and self-esteem, and concentrate on project management abilities, all with the help of industry veterans who provide guidance and mentoring.

Joyce Cook, a senior advisor for FIFA, Fernando Santos, Pepe of FC Porto and Portugal, and Adriana Criscione of PSG are all program ambassadors.

Joyce addressed the attendees at the graduation ceremony today and said, ‘Being here with you is profoundly personal to me for so many reasons, and being able to celebrate your achievements with you gives me a big feeling of hope, pride, and enthusiasm.’

‘It is imperative that people with disabilities have full access to assume their proper roles as administrators, leaders, and decision-makers. The game will unquestionably get better if we make sure disabled individuals may not only appreciate it but also participate in it more frequently. We’ll observe improved leadership, adaptability, growth, and innovation.’

‘Of course, I say this with the knowledge that accountability rests with all of us, and this should be a call to action for everyone in this room. To make football a more welcoming environment where everyone can pursue their aspirations, we all have a responsibility to address this issue.’

FIFA wants the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to not only be one of the most accessible major sporting events but also to leave a lasting legacy for handicapped people in Qatar by lifting the bar on accessibility and disability inclusion throughout the nation.

As part of the event, FIFA and the organizers are making efforts to guarantee that people with limited mobility can take advantage of barrier-free access to the stadium and get assistance, as needed, from specially trained volunteer teams.

In order to provide a welcoming atmosphere at the games for kids and people with sensory access needs, a sensory room was used at the FIFA Club World Cup and FIFA Arab Cup. Three of the eight stadiums used for the upcoming FIFA World Cup are expected to have sensory chambers, according to FIFA.

For those who are blind or partially sighted, we also provide audio-descriptive comments.

Last but not least, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy in Qatar runs a program in collaboration with Qatari disability organizations to use the FIFA World Cup to improve accessibility throughout the nation. Collaborations with the airport, public transportation networks, or the cultural industry are a part of the so-called Accessibility Forum.