Minister of Social Development and Family H E Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad has said that Qatar is fully ready for providing all possible means to receive fans with disabilities during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
She said that a number of World Cup stadiums have been provided with sensory rooms for people with intellectual disabilities among other arrangements for their comfort.
The Minister was addressing the opening ceremony of ‘Second Workshop on Arab Classification for Disability’, which is being organised by the Ministry of Social Development and the Family in cooperation with Secretariat General of Arab League at Sheraton Hotel.
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The event was attended by Minister of Social Development of Jordan H E Ayman Al Mufleh who is also Head of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs and Arab League’s Assistant Secretary-General; and Head of Social Affairs H E Dr. Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh.
A number of heads of delegations of the Arab countries, and a delegation from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) are also participating in the workshop.
“We are fully ready to receive fans with disabilities during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The past years have witnessed intensified preparations to ensure that this tournament will be the most accessible for people with disabilities in the history of international tournaments,” said Minister of Social Development and Family.
“A number of World Cup stadiums have been provided with sensory rooms for people with intellectual disabilities, an ideal atmosphere suitable for children with autism and neurobehavioural disorders to enjoy the matches in a safe space equipped with all advanced tools and devices,” said the Minister.
She said that these preparations extend to receiving the fans coming from outside Qatar, as Hamad International Airport provides a lobby called ‘Shafallah Centre’, to serve fans with disabilities and autism.
The Minister said that the lobby is equipped with the latest assistive technology and educational and rehabilitation equipment aimed at providing the best travel experience to them.
She stressed the importance of the workshop and the great responsibility of participants to empower persons with disabilities in the Arab World and to integrate them into society.
The Minister highlighted the announcement which was made by Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Social Development and Family, about the willingness to host the 4th World Summit on Disability in 2028 in cooperation with the International Disability Alliance.
She urged all participants to make their contribution during workshop in adopting first regional classification of disabilities because policies and programs are needed to support persons with disabilities in the Arab World.
The Minister stressed the importance of adopting the classification in order to rehabilitate Arab societies to take responsibility for inclusion, interaction and deal with people with disabilities.
Minister of Social Development of Jordan H E Ayman Al Mufleh said that the adoption of the classification will constitute a general qualitative leap in the joint Arab action in this field.
Dr. Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh thanked to Qatar, H H the Amir, the government and the people for their generous hospitality and for the efforts made in organising the important specialised Arab event.
The two-day workshop will witness specialised sessions aimed at developing a roadmap for a new model for classifying and evaluating disability.
