Showing posts with label Pursat activities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pursat activities. Show all posts
Kandieng District, Pursat Province
Monday, December 27, 2010
5. Promoting disability
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Since 2008 the Pursat River Run has included two parallel races for disabled people: one for amputees (mainly survivors of landmines) and one for wheelchair-racers. These races have been organised in association with a local NGO in Pursat, Disability Development Services Programme.
Due to their mobility problems, disabled people often can't travel far outside of their villages. It is therefore a remarkable once-a-year event for them to proudly take to the streets in the middle of Pursat town! The disabled athletes thoroughly enjoy the competition, and the races boost their self-esteem and build camaraderie between them. The races also increase the public visibility of disabled people, sending a powerful sign to the community that 'disability is not inability.'
The Pursat River Run has also helped DDSP to raise funds to support its activities.
Giving opportunities to Cambodia's elite runners
4. Giving opportunities to Cambodia's elite runners
Every year some of Cambodia's elite runners take part in the Pursat River Run. This gives them valuable race experience, in a country where there are few such road-races. The 10k winner in 2007 and 2008 was Sean Sopheak, who has represented Cambodia at the Asia and ASEAN Games. The national runners enjoy the chance to race competitively against each other and win cash prizes! And local Pursat runners like to see how they compare against the country's best!
In 2008 we were privileged to welcome Hem Bunting, Cambodia's national marathon record holder, who represented Cambodia in the Beijing Olympics, as guest of honour.
Developing grass-roots sport
3. Developing grass-roots sport
Not everybody can be a champion athlete, but everyone can benefit from sport and play at school. Unfortunately many schools, especially in rural areas, don't have adequate budget to buy sport equipment such as footballs and volleyball nets. Funds from the Pursat River run have been used to provide such equipment to several rural schools in Pursat.
2. Inspiring and rewarding talented youth
Talented runners in Pursat are encouraged and motivated by the opportunity to win trophies and cash prizes - prizes range from 250,000 riel (about $62.50) for 1st place to 40,000 riel ($10) for 15th. These cash prizes have helped many poor rural youth with school expenses and with family income-generating activities. They also gain less tangible rewards - the chance to stand on a podium in front of a crowd of hundreds, to be presented with their prizes by the Provincial Governor - the enormous smiles on the faces of the winning athletes speak for themselves!
In addition, money raised by the Pursat River Run enables some of Pursat's best runners to continue to fulfil their potential by travelling to other races nationally, such as the Angkor Marathon. Often this is the first time for them to travel so far from home, and as well as a sporting opportunity, it is a great opportunity for personal development and broadening horizons.
What we've achieved
1. Bringing the community together
The Pursat River Run is not confined to a stadium but is a very public event. The course takes runners right through the middle of Pursat Town, which makes it a truly town-wide celebration of running, encouraging passers-by and spectators to get involved in running. This can explain some of the Run's growth over the last four years.
The Run is inclusive of the whole community in Pursat: runners have ranged in age from 11 to 65, and have included policemen, soldiers, government officers, company employees and NGO staff. Disabled people have also participated. Outside of Pursat, the Run has welcomed runners from the neighbouring provinces of Kampong Chhnang and Battambang, and others from as far as Phnom Penh and Poipet.
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