At the end of May, Sarajevo will host a unique sporting event that combines willpower, inclusion and sportsmanship, the 15th International Sports Games “Oaza”, an event that has been affirming the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities and promoting their full inclusion in society for years.
The Association for Support of People with Intellectual Disabilities in the Sarajevo Canton has announced the holding of the jubilee 15th edition of the international sports competition “Sports Games of Oaze”, which will be held from 22 to 25 May 2025. The opening ceremony will start at 11 am in the Safet Zajko Center.
This event brings together athletes with intellectual disabilities from BiH and the region, who will compete in seven sports disciplines: football, athletics, bocce, basketball, swimming, table tennis, while a special activity is planned for people with multiple disabilities through the MATP program (Motor Activity Training Program).
The competitions will be organized at three key Sarajevo locations: Center for Education, Sports and Recreation “Safet Zajko”, Otoka Olympic Swimming Pool and Skenderija Center – Hall D2.
In addition to its competitive nature, the goal of this event is to promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities, through the concrete implementation of the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Through sport, these people are given the opportunity to show their talents, skills and strength of spirit.
The opening ceremony will be particularly festive, and the Federal Minister of Labor and Social Policy Adnan Delić will address the attendees, with the support of numerous other guests from the public, sports and non-governmental sectors.
The organization and implementation of the event is also strongly supported by the Swedish non-governmental organization MyRight-BiH – Empowers People with Disabilities, which brings together more than twenty organizations of people with various disabilities for the purpose of international development cooperation.
“Oaza Sports Games” are not just a sports competition, they are a symbol of hope, equality and unity. At the end of May, Sarajevo will once again show that sport can be a powerful tool for breaking down prejudices and building a more inclusive society, in which everyone has the right to show their potential. All roads then lead to the “Oaza” of equal opportunities!
