A Day of Inspiration Clouded by Exclusion
The 67th Kerala State School Sports Meet promised an inclusive celebration of sport. Yet, for many children with disabilities, the experience at Thiruvananthapuram’s venues on October 22 felt anything but inclusive. From missing ramps to distant food courts and broken equipment, the event exposed how the state’s vision of equality in sport still struggles to take real shape.
Around 2000 children with disabilities from all 14 districts took part in the one-day inclusive sports segment, with 980 participants under the age of 14. These young athletes represented 23 recognised categories of disability, ranging from visual and hearing impairments to cerebral palsy and locomotor disabilities. For them, this was more than competition—it was a chance to be seen and celebrated. But the infrastructure told another story.
Venues Without Ramps and Inaccessible Galleries
The inclusive events were held across four venues — University Stadium, Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, the College of Agriculture, Vellayani. They lacked proper accessibility. Even organisers admitted that setting up ramps was never discussed in pre-event planning.
At University Stadium, the galleries had no ramps at all. “Accessibility was a challenge not only for wheelchair users but also for students with mobility issues” said a special educator. “It is painful to see our children struggle for something as simple as access.”
The situation was particularly harsh when athletes had to reach the food court. Unlike in Kochi last year, where each venue had its own dining space, this time every participant had to travel nearly two kilometres to Putharikandam Maithanam. The long, uneven ground turned soggy after rain, making it difficult even for able-bodied visitors to walk. One educator recalled how a student fell while waiting in line for food.
Repeating Old Mistakes
Kerala introduced inclusive sports in its annual state school meet only last year, a move widely praised as progressive. Yet, many of the problems flagged in the last edition in Kochi have remained unresolved. Last year, the concerns centred on unclean toilets and the absence of wheelchair-accessible paths. This year, the same issues resurfaced, a stark reminder that inclusion on paper means little without structural change.
Special educators from Alappuzha echoed the disappointment. “The atmosphere is far from barrier-free. Even drinking water was hard to access. Our children had to walk across the ground just to find a dispenser,” one said.
Minister Repeats Familiar Assurances
When questioned about the decision to keep the inclusive meet a single-day affair, the Education Minister explained that the number of events was limited and could be completed within a day. He added that more facilities would be considered next year — the same promise made last year. Such recurring assurances have done little to convince participants or educators that change is on the way.
Broken Tetherbelt and Broken Trust
Even the events themselves were not free of controversy. During the 100-metre race for visually impaired athletes, the tetherbelt used to connect runners with their guides snapped mid-race due to poor quality. The incident raised concerns about the safety and dignity of the participants.
Officials stated that about 800 staff and 2000 volunteers had been deployed to ensure safety and discipline at the venues. Yet, as several educators noted, true safety lies not just in numbers but in infrastructure that respects every participant’s needs.
The Promise of Inclusion Still Distant
The inclusive segment of the Kerala State School Sports Meet remains a remarkable initiative on paper — a statement that children of all abilities deserve equal space on the field. But for the young athletes who returned home from Thiruvananthapuram this week, that promise felt hollow.
Until ramps replace stairs, accessible restrooms become the norm and planning starts with empathy rather than afterthoughts, Kerala’s “inclusive” meet will remain an unfinished story — a celebration that forgot those it claimed to include.
