Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s efforts in harnessing the power of football to strengthen the communities of its Member Associations (MAs) hit yet another milestone when the AFC Dream Asia Foundation (ADAF) supported the Mongolian Football Federation (MFF)’s efforts to inaugurate a Blind Football Camp in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar on May 28, 2023.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the MFF and the Mongolian Blind Football Federation (MBFF), marked the beginning of a new dawn for individuals in the region who had previously been denied the opportunity to cultivate their interest in sports owing to their visual impairment.
In tandem with the AFC’s ambition of levelling the playing field for individuals from all walks of life and the ADAF’s overarching motto of “Football Cares”, the programme was an excellent example of the MFF and MBFF upholding their own mission of allowing everyone a chance to experience the joy of playing the beautiful game.
With an aim to impact approximately 4000 individuals, the initiative has been curated through extensive research under the guidance of experts to ensure that the nation’s visually impaired community, particularly its children, are given the opportunity to grow a healthy body and mind while developing life skills that extend beyond the football pitch.
Also aiming to lay the foundation for building the country’s first national team by 2032, the programme was designed to ensure that all training sessions take place in a safe and accommodating environment.
To that end, the organisers ensured paved pathways leading up to the football pitch, which was covered by panels for the safety of the players. A main Ger was also made available for the organisers to meet and plan course activities while several other Gers were set up for the accommodation of the participants.
Additionally, to further safeguard the well-being of the participants, a Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) was acquired to assist parents and caregivers to transport the participating children from their schools or homes to the camp.
Besides around 20 blind participants who took part in the activities, the launch of the Blind Football Camp was also attended by several dignitaries such as representatives from the AFC, the MFF, the Australian Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Relations.
