SubscribeHere at the Rolling Rains Report the drumbeat is continuous for the application of Universal Design in tourism (Inclusive Tourism and Inclusive Destination Development.) The Spanish Paralympic Committee is promising extraordinary levels of design integration -- a "best practices" village for all the world to see and emulate.
But we know from experience around the world - as well as documentation in Simon Darcy's groundbreaking work in Benchmark Games - that careful monitoring at every stage is essential.
Even under a theoretical ideal situation such as Spain oversight is key. If these are to be the "game changer" Paralympics that will set the benchmark for inclusion then why not make its legacy be training of a new generation?
Could the Spanish 2016 Paralympics successfully include a cadre of students, professionals, and stakeholders who intimately observe (and critique) every step of the process? Understudies? Apprentices? Service Learning?
Let's begin recruiting stakeholders from the disability community who have distinguished themselves through work on the Beijing Games, Vancouver & London, South Africa and Brazil's FIFA games, India's Commonealth Games.
Let's see to it that Spain's quest to raise the bar allocates the financial resources to document, from today going forward, what it takes to make real the vision. I for one would not mind showing off their success on my coffee table with a celebratory "Benchmark Games II." In the meantime, sign me up to lead the Game's Service Learning Corps!
From GamesBids.com:
Miguel Carballeda, President of the Spanish Paralympic Committee (CPE), told the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Evaluation Commission that with Madrid hosting the 2016 Games "we would be able to celebrate the greatest Paralympic Games ever". He also outlined how Madrid was projecting the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a unique 60-day event, beginning with the day the Olympic Village opens and ending the day it closes.According to the presentation, the Paralympic Games project would use a transversal concept in design and build. The installations, accommodation and transport have been designed for mass use and enjoyment - including spectators and athletes, those with and without disabilities alike - to bring life to the slogan "the Games with the Human Touch".
The "design for all" concept has been worked up by the CPE in association with Madrid 2016 to ensure complete integration into the whole bid and alongside the Madrid 2016 Foundation.
Source:http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/olympic_bids/madrid_2016/1216134350.html