Event Planning for Individuals with Disabilities

Disability Sports Event Management

• This course covers managing disability sports events.
• Key differentiators between able-bodied and disability events include size, location, participant abilities, and additional needs. Commonalities are also important to consider
• Initial planning involves conceptualizing the event's purpose, theme, and creating a non-threatening environment. Financial support is also critical.
• A steering committee, including external consultants, is crucial to conduct feasibility studies. Potential members include community business representatives, athletes, sporting organization representatives, experience personnel, university professors, and government recreation department personnel.
• Important initial planning factors include any concurrent major events, athlete and spectator housing, necessary weather considerations, and community financial backing.

Games Management Team

• A sample organizational structure includes an event director, along with directors for administration, facilities, special events, and sports.
• Committees support these directors covering areas such as housing, meals, facilities, medical, registration, ceremonies, awards, finance, hospitality, public relations, volunteers, schedule, and special events.
• Operational activities and competition management are also covered.

Focal Points for Individuals With Disabilities

Opening Ceremony

• The opening ceremony typically includes colourful displays of logos and mascots, official welcomes, an Olympic flame ceremony, official anthems, and other musical presentations.

• The ceremony may also include lighting of the torch or flag raising, athletes' and judges' vows, a parade of nations, and various forms of entertainment (e.g., fireworks, celebrities).

Closing Ceremony

• Closing ceremonies include the passing on of the games, extinguishing the Olympic flame, the coming of athletes, and other entertainment (song, dance, and staged events). Fireworks are also frequently used.

Physical Accessibility

• Crucial aspects include elevators, entrances to bathrooms, showers, ramps, Braille or large-print signs, and emergency systems (lights, horns).

Transportation

• Transportation should consider limits to walking (e.g., not planning 30-minute walks to venues). Key design elements include a daily schedule of transportation routes, stop times, and ramps or volunteer assistance at major stops. Golf carts are also a possible option.

Information Dissemination

• Participant information should include event details (date, time, location). Clear communication methods such as plastic wristbands or neck ID tags and avoiding misrepresentation are key.

Spectator Care

• Spectator care focuses on evacuation strategies, disaster response, supply resources, clear directional signs, adequate lighting, handrails for safety, easily identifiable first-aid stations, anticipated environmental conditions, and familiarization of medical personnel with stadium designs.

Athlete Care

• Athlete care requires medical staff proportionally allocated to the number of participants and venues. A medical history and a list of prescribed drugs are required for each athlete. First-aid stations, uniforms for medical staff, evacuation routes, and security measures are critical elements. Individual needs should be considered.

Physical Disabled

• Equipment repair areas for prosthetics and wheelchairs need to be available. A set schedule for sport classifications is desirable.

Special Olympics Initiatives

• Special Olympics initiatives include healthy athletes programs, conferences, family meetings, host families, and an athletes' village.

Barrier-Free Communication

• For the Deaflympics, sign language classes for all volunteers and unified international sign language are essential.

Media

• Media outreach should involve a public relations specialist and a complete press center. Professional press releases are to be presented and athletes presented as athletes first, and their disabilities second.