The Bahraini deaf club was not just a sports entity. Since its foundation in 2005, it was a safe space, a platform for hope, and a voice for a category dear to our hearts, has always suffered from marginalization and silence, until this club, which was given its integration and empowerment.
In a sudden decision, the General Sports Authority announced this week the dissolution of the Bahraini deaf club, to drop the curtain on a twenty -year march of sincere work and the unique societal role. The decision came down like a thunderbolt to the club members and their families, and to everyone who followed the success story of this club, which was not a burden day, but rather a model for integration and social integration.
Since its inception, the club has embraced hundreds of young people from the deaf, and helped them overcome their isolation. They represented Bahrain in the world championships, and raised its flag high. From the Gulf gold in the bowling in 2005, to the bronze of Asia in Korea 2012, the club’s youth were real ambassadors for the homeland.
But their most important achievement was not only in medals, but in breaking barriers, building confidence, and making a decent life.
In an impressive statement, the club’s board of directors expressed the feelings of shock, confirming its commitment to defending the club by all legal and official means. The statement stated:
The club, which was established since 2005, has been sporting deaf sport with sincerity, will not be just a memory. We were honored to raise the Kingdom’s flag in the world championships, and it was a real beacon for the deaf at home and abroad.
We believe that our voice will arrive, and we put our full confidence in His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who has always stood with the deaf category, and His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad, who wrote in gold sports achievements in the Kingdom and His Highness the Crown Prince, Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who does not spare an effort to take into account the youth of the Kingdom, to extend the hand of support to us as we have always entrusted them at this difficult moment. Khalid bin Hamad, and His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad, to issue Karim’s decision to restore the club’s activity, to return to perform his message that no alternative to it.
This edifice, which was built on patience, dream and will, deserves to be preserved, not only for the past, but for generations of deaf who see their only home.
As the Bahraini Al -Sam Sports Club board renews its full confidence in His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, he raises a special appeal to His Highness, in his capacity as Chairman of the General Sports Authority, by requesting honor to meet members and representatives of the club, after their demands remained to meet His Highness, and unfortunately, commenting on the threshold of the authority’s officials without fairness or response.
We have made all the official ways, and we knocked on all the doors, but the echo of sound stopped before it reached decision makers. We believe that the meeting with His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa will be the beginning of the solution, and an opportunity to communicate the voice of an entire society that is still awaiting justice, recognition and support.
