At this time of year I get very excited because the finals of the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs will soon be starting. Although my team, the Los Angeles Lakers, had no chance of even being one of the 16 teams in the playoffs I still love the intensity of the games. How can you not love Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of the Thunder, Stephen Curry and the team work of the Warriors and Lebron James of the Cavaliers? There is also the fact that the Women’s NBA is just starting its 20th season. These are all amazing athletes. Basketball is one of my strongest passions in this life, filling my heart beyond bursting. Although I’m short I’ve played for more than 50 years and have also been coaching especially wheelchair basketball.
This year I’m even more excited because May 2016 brings history to the Nepali basketball scene. Through the NGO ENGAGE, creating a more inclusive society, the very first Nepal wheelchair basketball league, Turkish Airlines ENGAGE Empowering League (EEL), will begin its maiden voyage on Saturday May 28 with four game at the Army Physical Training and Sports Centre-Langenkhel Covered Hall. The opening ceremony will start at 8:30 AM with the first of four games beginning at 10:15 AM.
Although there have been numerous wheelchair basketball tournaments in Nepal, this is the first time that six men and three women’s teams will come together to play consistently over a seven week period. This is not only about winning a two or three day tournament which doesn’t really do much to build people’s skills. This is about building the capacities of the players in order to more fully enjoy the game and get consistent exercise, building relationships, helping the public to discover the abilities of people with disabilities and developing a more inclusive Nepali society. Bikram Rajkarnikar, the League In-Charge stated, “the League was started in order for people with disabilities to showcase their talents and to create further societal awareness.”
This is a tremendous partnership between ENGAGE and many others. The Government of Nepal is participating through the Ministry of Youth and Sports as they are the co-convenor of the EEL and NDVS is providing basketballs. Major donors for the EEL are the Swiss Embassy, Turkish Airlines, Waroux Family and Friends and an anonymous foundation. There was an on-line fundraising campaign which raised $2400 from 24 people. Local donors include Navyo Nepal Discover Asia, d-Lifesyles, sellers of Vespa, Century Bank, Civil Bank, Hero and Media Gallery Private Ltd.
There are numerous ways to develop Corporate Social Responsibility schemes but sports is an ideal way to partner. Everybody loves sports and they are a method for bringing people and even governments of countries who may be at odds, together. Anybody, no matter how coordinated or no matter what abilities one has, can play. The UN has an Office on Sport for Development and Peace and there are NGOs such as Peace and Sport and Sport and Development also working on bringing people together. There are NGOs in Nepal such as ENGAGE, NSCISA and NDA and my friends from Wheelchair Athletes Worldwide (WAW) who were in Nepal in May 2013 to donate sports wheelchairs and do a three day clinic, who can have a huge impact.
But this isn’t only about playing basketball, as the Turkish Airlines EEL will also take the form of lectures about disability in colleges, building leadership capabilities in both coaches and players, learning how to participate in being part of a team and developing systems for operating a league. This all requires engagement from a mostly volunteer team, which ENGAGE prides itself on.
Through my four years of living in Nepal, for whatever reasons, I’ve found it very difficult to collaborate on a long-term basis. But the Turkish Airlines EEL has the potential to bring a wide range of people and organisations together. However, in order to do this we must set aside our egos and do what is best for Nepal.
The initial season will have its ups and downs, as this is all a learning process. But let’s try to imagine the league in its fifth year with teams all over the country, with public support and more people with disabilities being part of the mainstream, working everywhere, with accessible sidewalks and buildings throughout Kathmandu. Let’s not only dream but make this a reality as we build back Nepal even better.
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