‘Groundbreaking’ sensory room at Al Janoub Stadium proves a success

QNA/Doha

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) said it has further developed its “unique approach” to ensuring that stadiums cater to all with the instalment of another ‘groundbreaking’ sensory room, this time at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah city.

This comes as part of the SC’s commitment to ensuring the FIFA World Cup 2022 is the most accessible edition in tournament history, sc.qa reports.

The room – which provides people with autism and other neurobehavioural conditions a safe space to retreat to during the game – was designed and delivered in partnership with the Qatar Rehabilitation Institute (QRI), and follows the successful inclusion of a similar room at Khalifa International Stadium.

So, for the second time during a Qatar 2022 stadium opening, the SC delivered a ‘groundbreaking’ sensory room as Al Janoub Stadium opened its gates for the 2019 Amir Cup final in May.

On the night, 22 children with autism from the Qatar Foundation Disability Football Programme and the QRI – joined by their parents – watched the game from the comfort of the room. The group from Qatar Foundation were also given the ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity to participate in a special on-pitch Generation Amazing activation, led by Brazil’s FIFA World Cup-winning captain Cafu.

Before, during and after the game, they had access to the sensory room – which was filled with equipment such as bubble tubes, beanbags and a ball pen, and also included relaxing wall and ceiling projections. “Once again, it proved to be a huge success,” the report said.

Commenting on the room and the partnership with the SC, QRI’s chief of Occupational Therapy Sultan al-Abdulla said: “The team at QRI is proud to have partnered with the SC to equip the state-of-the-art sensory rooms in the stadium.

“Along with the SC, we are committed to promoting accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities in all aspects of life in Qatar, including working together to reach the vision of a fully accessible World Cup.

“The QRI has provided a range of specialist sensory equipment for the sensory room, which is now available in the stadium for children and adults who have conditions such as attention deficits, autism and head injuries. The room enables users to watch the matches under the supervision of an expert occupational therapist in a nurturing, client-centered sensory supportive environment.”

Although not written into FIFA’s requirements, the SC and its stakeholders are committed to prioritising accessibility in 2022, with plans in place to cater for people with both physical disabilities and cognitive disabilities.

The equipment in the room was provided by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), and specialist staff from the QRI were on hand throughout to assist children when they needed extra care.

Commenting on the room, the SC’s Community Engagement manager Mead al-Emadi, said: “We are proud to have been able to deliver another sensory room, this time at the magnificent Al Janoub Stadium. We have always said this World Cup is a World Cup for all. All are welcome and all will be catered for – that includes people with conditions that can sometimes make it challenging to attend large-scale events such as football matches.

“However, with the inclusion of these sensory rooms, they and their families can attend the games knowing they have a safe space just a few metres away, should they become overwhelmed at any point.

“It gives us all great pleasure to see these children able to relax and enjoy the events, just like everyone else. I would like to thank our partners at Qatar Foundation, the QRI and HMC for making this wonderful project possible, and we look forward to working together many more times over the coming years – up to and beyond 2022.”

في إطار التزامها باستضافة النسخة الأكثر ملاءمة لمتطلبات ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة في تاريخ بطولة كأس العالم لكرة القدم، كشفت اللجنة العليا للمشاريع والإرث عن نجاح مبهر لتجربة الغرفة الحسّية المخصصة لذوي الإعاقة الذهنية في استاد الجنوب بمدينة الوكرة الشهر الماضي، وذلك خلال أول مباراة يستضيفها الاستاد،

وكانت المباراة النهائية لكأس الأمير في مايو الماضي شهدت استقبال الغرفة الحسّية في استاد الجنوب 22 طفلاً من مرضى التوحد، من منتسبي برنامج كرة القدم لذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة في مؤسسة قطر ومركز قطر لإعادة التأهيل، الذين حضروا المباراة برفقة ذويهم.

ويعد استاد الجنوب في مدينة الوكرة ثاني استادات مونديال قطر 2022 الذي يحتوي على غرفة المساعدة الحسيّة، بعد استاد خليفة الدولي، وتوفّر هذه القاعة المتطورة، التي جرى تجهيزها بالشراكة مع مركز قطر لإعادة التأهيل، أجواءً مثالية تلائم أطفال التوحد والاضطرابات العصبية السلوكية.

وفي تصريح لها بهذه المناسبة، قالت السيدة ميعاد العمادي، مديرة التواصل المجتمعي في اللجنة العليا: نفخر بنجاحنا في توفير قاعة أخرى للمساعدة الحسيّة في استادات مونديال قطر 2022، وهذه المرة في استاد الجنوب المبهر، ولطالما أكدنا أن كأس العالم في قطر بطولة للجميع دون استثناء، فالكل مرحب بهم، خاصة أولئك الذين يعانون من ظروف خاصة قد تعوق حضورهم واستمتاعهم مع الآخرين بالفعاليات الرياضية الكبرى، مثل مباريات كرة القدم. ومع توفير هذه الغرف الخاصة في الاستادات أصبح بإمكان هؤلاء الأطفال الاستمتاع مع عائلاتهم بأجواء المباريات في مساحة آمنة تزخر بكافة التجهيزات المتطورة.

وأضافت العمادي: نحن سعداء للغاية بإتاحة الفرصة أمام الأطفال للاسترخاء والاستمتاع بمثل هذه الفعاليات الرياضية، ولا يفوتني هنا أن أتوجه بالشكر لشركائنا في مؤسسة قطر، ومركز قطر لإعادة التأهيل، ومؤسسة حمد الطبية، على مساهمتهم القيّمة في نجاح هذا المشروع.