Following discussions with senior officials of the respective Paralympic associations, Sports Minister Olivia Grange says she intends to make the upgraded National Stadium more inclusive to persons with disabilities.

On Wednesday at the ministry’s headquarters, Grange discussed the growth and further development of Jamaica’s parasports and its athletes locally with International Paralympic Committee President (IPC) Andrew Parsons, executive director of the Americas Paralympic Committee Michele Formonte and Jamaica Paralympic Association President Christopher Samuda.

The National Stadium is set to undergo a major renovation at a cost of close to $16 billion, beginning in August.

While there will be several upgrades and the introduction of new features, Grange says it will better accommodate the country’s para-athletes.

“I don’t think we’ve been able to do enough for our Paralympians or athletes with special needs,” she said. “It’s not only about the sport but about their lives, so it’s important that the more we do, the better it will be for them.

“The renovation of the National Stadium will take into consideration accessibility for all sports; for those who are physically able and those with disabilities. That’s always been our policy and so the newly developed National Stadium will provide those facilities.”

Parsons, while admitting the IPC doesn’t have direct control over the upgrade and development of sporting facilities, says the organisation will do its best to ensure Jamaica’s athletes have more venues to access.

“This is the role of other organisations, probably levels of government in Jamaica but the multilateral organisations such as the development banks because we talk about infrastructure here, stadiums, training centres, possible pools, indoor arenas and so on,” he said. “This is not something the IPC can come and do — build facilities in every one of our 185 nations.

“But it’s something we can activate and bring up at CAF [Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean] and see if it’s possible for them to invest a little bit more in accessible infrastructure, accessible sports infrastructure with some support from government. Everyone will play a role in terms of funding different aspects of the project but yes, it’s something that’s the number one priority: that athletes can have access to training venues.”

Formonte also says the efficient movement of the para-athletes will also be critical in the growth of the programme.

“We know that transportation is not so easy so the idea is to have all the venues close by and persons with disabilities can go to the venues because sometimes they have to walk, they have to roll in their wheelchairs, the blind people also need help,” she said.

“So the idea is to have or build sports facilities for everyone, not just for people with disabilities but for mothers with strollers, people in wheelchair or elderly with a walker so it’s for everyone to get access to sports facilities.”

JPA President Samuda says creating and implementing effective laws will help to make more venues cater to those with disabilities.

“Sometimes, you have to legislate,” he said. “Sometimes the legislation framework has to be such that it enjoins persons, particularly in building codes, in accessibility to their buildings and to ensure things are in place.

“We’re looking at the legal framework which is essential because it’s in that context, you’ll realise the strategic objectives. That is also a vital element of the programme; what is the policy making culture, what is the policymaking framework, what are the policies that need to be in place in order to ensure sustainably and compliance and to advance the education programme in the Paralympic movement.”