Community sport for people with disability in Berlin

Abstract

The aim of this report is to introduce the recent trends in sports activities of people with disabilities in Berlin. Until recently in Berlin, the number of people registered with the Berlin Sports Federation for Persons with Disabilities (Behinderten-Sportverband Berlin e.V; BSB) was lower than the average number of registrants for all of Germany. However, together with integrated sports and the integration of information, and the growing network between the BSB and schools, businesses, medical institutions, and medical insurance, efforts are being made to improve accessibility to sports for people with disabilities. As a result, there has been a great increase in the number of people registered in the BSB. In addition, the Associated Sports Clubs for People with Disabilities (SGH Berlin) combines a number of clubs to take advantages of the economy of scale. SGH Berlin, by creating integrated sports groups and providing information to the residents of surrounding communities, is working to change the image of people with disabilities. These efforts to promote sports among people with disabilities may serve as reference for attempts to improve the sports environment for people with disabilities and increase the number of participants in Japan.