By creating inclusive activities accessible to people with disabilities, Recsports Vietnam, an innovative social project founded in 2016, is opening doors to connection, confidence, and social integration. Sports are becoming a source of joy, empowerment, and hope for a community that has long wished in vain to be included.
“My name is Nguyen Thi Huong. I’m from the For Tomorrow Disability Center. I’ve only been able to participate in skills classes for people with disabilities. Because of my hand impairment, I’ve never had the chance to take part in any sports activities. I’d be very happy if there were a sport I could participate in,” said Ms Huong.
“My name is Tran Thi Thuan. I’m the Director of Tam Ngoc Cooperative in Soc Son, Hanoi. I have a physical disability. When I was young, I had a fever that caused complications and left my legs paralyzed. I’ve never had access to any sports activities. I wish there were sports for people with disabilities so we could enjoy those activities,” said Ms Thuan.
Finding a sport that accommodates their physical condition is the wish of many. Playing sports would improve their health and give them confidence, mental resilience, and motivation to take control of their life and integrate into the community. The Recsports Vietnam is finally giving the disabled community an answer to that wish.
Nguyan Xuan Khanh, a member of the Hanoi Association of People with Disabilities, was passionate about sports in his childhood. At the age of 20, he suffered an accident that damaged his spine and left him disabled. But his passion for sports never faded. According to Khanh, Recsports has given him physical activities he can do and has also served as a form of mental therapy.
“I think Recsports is great. I first learned about it two years ago. I see that the members are very enthusiastic about spreading Recsports to schools, nursing homes, and people with disabilities. People with all different types of disabilities can participate, gaining optimism, confidence, joy, better health, and a more meaningful life,” said Mr Khanh.
Wanting to create an inclusive playground for the community, in 2016, Le Van Thang of Ha Dong ward, Hanoi, together with several of his friends, launched the Recsports Vietnam project — a model of recreational and inclusive sports featuring more than 10 different games.
“To reach people with disabilities and encourage them to participate in these sports, we have organized activities and introduced new sports. They naturally attract public interest and then people with disabilities begin asking questions and learning more about them. At first, we just introduce the sports to them and let them try a variety of activities. Once we identify which sports are most suitable, we focus on developing those sports,” said Mr Thang.
Thang says he and his friend Nguyen Phuong Tung spent time studying and working abroad, where they were introduced to the concept of recreational sports, where physical activity is less about competition than improving one’s quality of life.
“When my friend Tung and I lived and worked abroad, we saw that recreational sports is very popular in other countries. Many people can join in these games. If able-bodied people can play sports, then people with disabilities should be able to play, too. They deserve playgrounds, tournaments, and recognition just like anyone else,” said Mr Thang.
Ms Chu Thi Thanh Huong, Chairwoman of the Association of Parents of Hearing-Impaired Children and Deaf People in Vietnam, said that, compared with other types of disabilities, hearing-impaired people have fewer opportunities to play sports. Recsports has brought many benefits to the deaf community.
“I really appreciate that deaf people are now being given an opportunity to play a suitable sport so they can integrate into society rather than being marginalized. Not only can they participate, but deaf people can now compete in tournaments,” said Ms Huong.
Instead of focusing on competition and setting records, Recsports focuses on finding the most suitable physical activities for elderly persons, medical patients, people with disabilities, hearing-impaired children, and individuals with intellectual limitations.
“Each type of disability and each age group requires a different activity. Our current recreational sports system includes disc golf, footgolf, snookball, kickdarts, footbowl, and ultimate frisbee. We’re also developing a model called digital sports that can be played on computers,” said Mr Thang.
Recsports designs physical activities that match the physical condition and ability of different groups of disabled people. Sports like football, golf, billiards, and disc throwing are adapted to various degrees of mobility, and the rules of play are modified as needed.
“Before we introduce any new activity, we always conduct very careful research. We learn from models abroad, but we also study whether they’re suitable for different types of disabilities. Our program is very diverse so that people with intellectual disabilities, spinal cord injuries, hearing impairments, and visual impairments can all participate in and enjoy some kind of sports activity,” said Mr Thang.
According to Ms Luong Thi Minh Nguyet, a member of the Vietnam Paralympic Executive Committee and General Director of Hope Social Enterprise, Recsports is about sharing, companionship, and connecting people in similar circumstances.
Recsports has organized activities in schools and hospitals, exchange activities, and grassroots sports competitions, changing disabled people’s mindset and lifestyle, and encouraging them to challenge themselves and affirm their own value.
“More and more people are gaining access to recreational sports. There are many people with disabilities who really want to play sports, but they can’t just run out onto the field and play football, and they might not be able to participate in any sport that requires a lot of physical strength or teamwork. But when they’re introduced to the sports we provide, they find that they’re able to participate and even compete,” said Ms Nguyet.
Mr Doan Ngoc Chien, Marketing Director of Hope Social Enterprise Joint Stock Company and Head of the Hope Sports Club, believes Recsports helps people with disabilities become healthier, more confident, and more connected with the community.
“What’s great about Recsports is that it has activities suitable for every type of disability. It creates excitement and enjoyment. Recsports makes me feel that more attention is being paid to the people with disabilities and their need to have access to sports,” said Mr Chien.
Recsports is working to prove that the joy of physical activity is the right of everyone.
“We hope that, in the near future, there will be a recreational sports complex dedicated to people with disabilities, where they can have fun, get exercise, and play sports together. To that end, we’re currently seeking connections and partnerships to secure facilities and venues and help with operations, so that together we can build and run a recreational sports complex for people with disabilities.” said Mr Thang.
