Stakeholders have been urged to step up support for athletes with disabilities, as four Tanzanian swimmers target qualification for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, United States.
The appeal was made by National Sports Council (NSC) senior sports officer Charles Maguzu during the National Para Swimming Championships, where he stressed the need for adequate funding and training opportunities to prepare athletes for international competition.
Maguzu said greater support from the government, private sector and other institutions would help young people with disabilities develop their talents and compete at the highest level.
“Disability is neither an illness nor a reason for anyone to consider themselves incapable,” he said, urging young people with disabilities to believe in themselves and recognise their potential.
He called on parents to work closely with the government in identifying and nurturing sporting talent among children with disabilities from an early age.
Maguzu also appealed to companies and other institutions to invest in para sports, saying athletes needed adequate preparations, including sufficient time in training camps, to improve their performance and increase their chances of qualifying for major international competitions.
Tanzania Paralympic Committee president Tuma Dandi said the committee coordinates and oversees sports for people with disabilities in collaboration with the respective national sports associations.
He commended the government for its efforts to promote para sports, noting that participation in sporting activities contributes to better health, education and social inclusion.
Dandi called for stronger support from the NSC and other institutions to ensure athletes with disabilities have the resources and opportunities needed to develop their abilities.
He said the committee continued to promote various disciplines, including swimming and powerlifting, while urging parents to introduce children to sports early and encourage them to maintain regular training even when they return home.
Meanwhile, Tanzania Swimming Association for People with Disabilities (TSA) vice-chairperson Clara Kaziga said the championships attracted participants despite challenges arising from school examination schedules.
She cited pupils from Pugu as among those who needed special permission to participate because of examination commitments.
Kaziga said about 70 swimmers took part in the championships, representing institutions and clubs including Jangwani Secondary School, Buguruni, Josephians, PJC in Kigamboni, Stingrays and Athletics Sports.
For Jangwani Secondary School student Aziza Bakari, the competition offered an opportunity for young athletes with disabilities to showcase their abilities, improve their performance and build confidence.
Bakari said she was delighted to win the girls’ 50-metre swimming race, adding that disability should not prevent young people from pursuing their sporting ambitions.
She said people with disabilities could participate in various disciplines, including swimming, tennis and basketball.
Bakari, who also trains in tennis, said she hoped to compete in a tournament in Kenya.
She urged parents to stop hiding children with disabilities and instead support them in pursuing sports and developing their talents.
The call for greater stakeholder involvement comes as Tanzania seeks to strengthen opportunities for athletes with disabilities and improve their prospects of competing on the international stage.