As part of its plan to empower athletes with special needs, the Lebanese Badminton Federation launched its special needs committee, by organising the workshop titled “Sports for Everyone” on Saturday, March the 2nd at Hoops Club. The training included 35 coaches and physical education trainers, who received awareness of the inclusion of special needs in sports world.

The aim of the course was to provide basic badminton skills to physical education teachers, trainers, and university students specializing in physical education, in order to train and develop educators and trainers working with persons with special needs (intellectual/mental special needs.) Additionally, practical badminton skills were taught to enable them to teach these skills to students with intellectual disabilities.

The first part of the workshop included two lectures: the first by Dr. Fatima Al-Kaisi (educational consultant and certified specialist in special education) entitled “Principles of Special Education,” and the second by Ms. Samar Chatila (Head of the Disabilities Department at ISAPES and owner of the Special Athletes Academy) entitled “Adapted Badminton – Empowering Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in the World of Sports.

The second part of the workshop witnessed practical activities animated by the General Secretary of the Lebanese Badminton Federation and Head of Development in Asia Coach Paul Roukoz, who guided attendees toward the process of developing the skills of people with special needs, through diverse exercises.

At the end, participants received their certificates of attendance, under the presence of Mrs. Dina Hakim Agha, Head of Special Needs Committee, the members of the Special Needs Committee Ms. Samar Chatila and Dr. Fatima El Kaissi. Were present also the Vice President of the Lebanese federation and Head of Women and Humanity committee Ms. Rola Majzoub Kabbani, the General Secretary Mr. Paul Roukoz, along with the advisory member Ms. Nicole Choueiry, Head of Schools Committee.