Organized by the Macao Sport Development Board and co-organized by the Macao-China Paralympic Committee, together with Macao - China Recreation and Sports Association for the Disabled, Macao Special Olympics and the Macao Sports Association of the Deaf, the “2012 Macao Sports Day for the Disabled” was held at the indoor gymnasium of the Olympic Sports Center on April 15th and attracted the participation of around 2,500 people. Nine different recreational and sports activities booths and three physical fitness assessment stations were set up, which allowed the disabled, their families, as well as the public to experience the joy of sports.
This is the 10th year that the “Macao Sports Day for the Disabled” was held. With this event, the organizers hope to promote the vision of “Sports for All”—Let’s Exercise for a Better Heath” to people with disabilities and to disseminate the message of “a lifelong exercise and harmonious society for all”. They also hope to increase public awareness and understanding of the disabled, encouraging them to actively participate in social activities and jointly contribute towards the construction of a harmonious and healthy society. This year, local athlete Hui Long was invited to attend the event. Her presence served as both a support and an inspiration to the disabled to face challenges in good health and spirit despite their disabilities. The recreation and sports activities kicked off immediately after the opening ceremony.
One of the “highlights” of this event was the invitation of delegations from the China Disabled Persons Federation and China Welfare Fund for the Handicapped by the Macao Sport Development Board to attend the event, under the “Cooperation Protocol for the Joint Promotion of the Development of Sports for the Disabled” framework. This was done with the hope of enhancing the exchanges in the field of sports affairs between Macao and the Mainland, reinforce their ties of friendship, jointly promote the development of sports for the disabled, as well as nurture sport talents.
