JAKARTA/ZURICH, 7 March 2022 – Around sixty members of football associations, government officials, and sports practitioners from ASEAN Member States gathered virtually on 2 March at the ASEAN-FIFA Webinar: Universal Design for Football Stadia and Sports Facilities.
The webinar emphasised that sports should not exclude any segment of the population, especially persons with disabilities (PWDs) and that sports venues’ accessibility and inclusivity must be part of the conversation and efforts, as early as the planning stage.
This webinar promoted inclusive access for PWDs in football stadia and sports facilities. It also solicited feedback on how football associations and relevant authorities can collaborate in applying universal design in their respective facilities.
In her opening remarks, Director of Human Development of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Department Rodora T. Babaran highlighted that ASEAN sees the growing interests in hosting major sports events as an opportunity to promote the sports industry in the region, including its contribution to the region’s socio-economic growth.
FIFA Chief Social Responsibility & Education Officer Joyce Cook noted that, “we applaud the commitment from stakeholders in the region in coming together today with a common goal to enhance and make sporting facilities inclusive and welcoming spaces for all.
“We look forward to following and supporting these ongoing efforts. As a disabled person myself, I know first-hand how important this work is and the inclusive opportunities that our beautiful game can provide. We need to ensure many more disabled people are afforded the same chances across both the ASEAN region, and globally,” she added.
The session included presentations from Jacel Paguiao, representative of Poverty Eradication and Gender Division, ASEAN Secretariat, on ASEAN cooperation on universal design under the framework of ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and an Overview of FIFA Standards & Requirements by FIFA Accessibility & Diversity Manager, Hala Ousta.
Timmy Setiawan, an architect of Unitri Cipta Consultant, shared his experience in applying universal design in various venues in Indonesia, including the Lukas Enembe Stadium in Papua, the Manahan Stadium in Solo, and the soon-to-be officiated Jakarta International Stadium, in preparation for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Indonesia 2023. His presentation highlighted the architect’s perspectives in seeing PWDs as both the competing athletes and spectators.
Further, the webinar discussed other topics, such as: how to meet minimum standards with limited resources; how organisers can promote the participation of PWDs in sports events through outreach activities; and the importance of engaging PWDs in the design process of venues to test the level of convenience and safety.
This initiative forms part of the ASEAN-FIFA Collaboration Plan 2021-2022 adopted by the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports, which also contributes to the implementation of ASEAN Work Plan on Sports 2021-2025, particularly in the empowerment of PWDs and youth with special needs through initiatives on sports.
