Deaf Jamaica sports day this weekend

Deaf children and adults from across the island will converge on the Mona Bowl this weekend for the Deaf Sports Jamaica's sixth annual National Deaf Sports Day.

The two-day event set for today and tomorrow will see children from schools for the deaf across the island compete against each other in netball, football, track and field and table tennis on day one, while deaf adults will join the action on day two.

DSJ has collaborated with the Advancing Deaf Kidz Jamaica! Project (ADKJ) which is aimed at empowering children to recognise and protect themselves against child abuse through sports and dance. Through this collaboration, the ADKJ project has introduced some new activities dominoes, cheerleading and storytelling meant to build confidence in the students and raise awareness of abuse.

"This collaboration has been good. ADKJ has introduced some new activities for this year's sports day and we have gladly welcomed them," said DJ President Kamar Groves.

Executive Officer of the Jamaica Association for the Deaf, Iris Soutar explained that deaf children tend to face stigma and discrimination which leads to low self concepts. Thus, one of the aims of the sports day is to empower the children through sports.

"This National Sports Day, the ADKJ project hopes to provide opportunities through which deaf children can experience the joy of success in activities," she said.

ADKJ and DSJ have worked closely with the University of Technology for technical support during this venture. Other organisations that have been instrumental include the National Association of Domino Bodies and OnDiRun Events Management. The major event sponsor is the British based charity organisation Comic Relief. Other sponsors include Triple Century Sports Bar and Grill, and the Sports Development Foundation.