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‘Special applause for Qatar and FIFA’: George Mathew’s note on the World Cup example of disability friendship | From the Net | Deshabhimani

George Mathew, from Malayali, praises Qatar and FIFA for providing excellent facilities for the differently abled people who come to watch the World Cup. In a post on Facebook, George Mathew said there was no way there were as many people with disabilities as spectators at any previous World Cup. The note also says that if a wheelchair is requested at the metro stations, they have ensured the wheelchair facility from that point to the last station where we have to get down.

Note from George Mathew:

This year’s FIFA World Cup has noticed that accessibility is very important right from the start. The World Cup dreams were fueled by the relatively cheap prices for Middlesbrough and the fact that they could somehow secure accommodation as they had friends. During the ticket sale we were informed that the accessibility ticket was much cheaper than expected and that a companion ticket was available for free. When his best friend expressed interest in coming with him, he decided to go. Planned and took five tickets during the second auction stage, got all five when the lot came (there was a draw). Then it was a race to prepare for the trip. One by one slowly all were ready.

(What to prepare? Book tickets, order visas, and set the time and go when it’s time? Any of these layers will get a good job. It’s a topic for writing essays. Not for the turn).

Go with a detailed understanding of the mobility options. When I went to watch the first two games, I had a very good job. It took a lot of practice. The main problem was that many volunteers did not know about all the facilities and that the mobility marshals themselves lacked coordination. There is a golf cart, a wheelchair, a priority line, an elevator, a special entrance – all of which are poorly coordinated. Many of the volunteers were helpless. The complaints must have been heard and by the next game the system was working perfectly. After that there were no problems.

There were hundreds of differently abled people in the stadium as many facilities had been provided for those with mobility problems, including special comfortable seating. Never before have so many disabled people attended the World Cup (let the numbers come). The volunteers also always tried to make things easier. The service worth mentioning is Metro. When we reach the access point outside the station, if we ask for a wheelchair from any of the officers there, they ensure a wheelchair facility from that point to the last station where’ n we have to go down.

Even if the train has to change between different lines, a wheelchair, a volunteer to push it, and a railway official are always ready. After loading the route and sitting in the seat, the officer will send a wireless message to the next station. The next team will wait at the landing area. So they will make us go to the car park or where we get the bus. It was no small pleasure to see the Metro manage crowds effectively and support wheelchair access in an unhindered manner in the often overcrowded crowd (spectators mostly use the metro service). Paka Professional Service! A special round of applause for Qatar and FIFA who gave so much support within the constraints. The same pattern can be repeated in subsequent World Cups by fixing the faults. It should be repeated.

[എൻ.ബി:- സെൽഫിയിലുള്ളത് അലക്‌സ്. കെനിയക്കാരനാണ്. ഒമ്പത് അംഗകുടുംബം, ചെക്കന് മാത്രേ നാടുവിട്ട് ജോലി സമ്പാദിക്കാനായുള്ളൂ. ഖത്തറിലെ വിസ ജനുവരിയിൽ തീരുമത്രേ. കുടുംബം രക്ഷപെടണമെങ്കിൽ വീണ്ടും എങ്ങനെയെങ്കിലും ഇങ്ങോട്ട് വരാൻ നോക്കണം. വീൽ ചെയറിനായുള്ള നീണ്ട കാത്തിരിപ്പിനു ശേഷം (ഒരുപാട് പേർക്ക് വേണ്ടിയിരുന്നു) മടുത്തെന്ന് അടുത്തുണ്ടായിരുന്ന വോളണ്ടിയർ കുപ്പായമിട്ട അലക്സിനോട് പറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ തന്റെ ജോലിയല്ലാഞ്ഞിട്ടും പോയി ഒരു വീൽ ചെയർ സംഘടിപ്പിച്ച് വന്ന് അതുമായി എന്റെ കൂടെ ലാസ്റ്റ് സ്റ്റേഷൻ വരെ വന്ന് ബസും കയറ്റി വിട്ടു. മുടിഞ്ഞ വെയിറ്റുള്ള എന്നേം കൊണ്ട് ദൂരം ചില്ലറയൊന്നുമല്ല മൂപ്പർ തള്ളിയത്. ബുദ്ധിമുട്ടായോന്ന് ചോദിച്ചപ്പോൾ, ദിസ് ഈസ് മൈ ഡ്യൂട്ടി എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞു മനോഹരമായി ചിരിച്ചു. അവസാന ദിവസത്തെ മെട്രോ യാത്രയിൽ വീണ്ടും കണ്ടപ്പോൾ ചെക്കൻ മിസ്റ്റർ മാത്യൂ എന്നും വിളിച്ച് ഓടി വന്നു കെട്ടിപ്പിടിച്ചു. ജന്മത്ത് മറക്കില്ല എന്നുറപ്പുള്ള മുഖങ്ങളിലൊന്ന്).



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