The supervisors and young students with disabilities who participated in the National School Sports competition in Mahajanga came to present their results to the head of the Diana region. They did not return empty-handed: with gold medals and a trophy in hand, they proudly shared the fruits of their participation in this national competition.
After participating in this national competition for the first time, athletes with disabilities achieved remarkable performances in their respective disciplines. They could have stayed in Antsiranana due to a lack of resources, but they finally returned from Mahajanga with an impressive record: six medals, including three gold, two silver, and one bronze.
It all started with a simple idea: why couldn’t children with disabilities from Antsiranana also take part in school sports competitions? Octave Lydie Sabine, a teacher and coach, had observed the participation of athletes with disabilities in competitions in Fianarantsoa. The experience convinced her. Upon returning to Antsiranana, she decided to take action and form a team to enter the competition. For an entire school year, she prepared ten children from the ‘Passerelle’ integrated class of EPP Scama. Training session after training session, she tried to instill a new certainty in these young people: their disability should not be a barrier.
However, a major obstacle arose: funding for the trip. The request sent to the relevant ministry did not yield the expected results. At the last minute, support for the travel of children with disabilities was not granted, as the available budget was earmarked for able-bodied students.
The story could have ended there, but Sabine sought other solutions. She knocked on the doors of the region and several economic operators. The aid gathered finally made it possible to finance the team’s trip to Mahajanga. And where resources were lacking, the results spoke for themselves.
For Antsiranana’s first participation, the young athletes achieved an unexpected performance. Two gold titles were won in the 100-meter dash and another in the 3.5 kg shot put. The two silver medals were obtained in the 100-meter dash, while the bronze came from the 200-meter race. A record that gives a new dimension to this first experience.
‘It’s almost a miracle. For a first participation, Antsiranana makes a strong impression,’ emphasizes the coach of these ten young people from the ‘Passerelle’ integrated class of EPP Scama. This program is designed to gradually prepare children with disabilities to join an ordinary class. Whether it is Down syndrome, autism, or hearing impairment, they have different profiles but share the same message: disability should never define a child’s limits.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-19 05:39:02 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/antsiranana-sport-scolaire-les-athletes.html