IPOH: The Youth and Sports Ministry will look into a proposal to build the first sports school for disabled athletes in the country.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu welcomed the proposal by Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi representing the disabled community in the Dewan Negara, to empower the community in sports.
"We would like to say thank you to Senator Datuk Ras Adiba for her suggestion to open a special school for the development of sports among para athletes.
"This is a good proposal, but we need to refine it and will continue to have discussions with the Education Ministry. Insya-Allah (God willing), one day it will come true," he said after visiting Perak Para-Athlete Archery Training Centre at Perak Veterinar Department here, today.
Ahmad Faizal added he hoped the construction of the sports school could be realised as it could empower and develop persons with disabilities (PwD) in sports.
On Sept 7, Ras Adiba made several recommendations to the ministry to ensure the nation's para-athletes continued to excel in sports.
Among the proposals include the construction of the first sports school for the disabled; provision of support facilities such as physiotherapy and funding; ensuring PwD-friendly facilities and amenities at stadiums, sports complexes and fields; as well as giving para athletes who are no longer competing the opportunity to become coaches.