KUWAIT, June 22 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah patronized and attended the opening of a multi-purpose hall for the deaf at Kuwait sport club for the deaf on Saturday evening.
Sheikh Jaber inaugurated the hall which consisted of a handball court, a volleyball court and a swimming pool, all built in line with international standards for people with special needs.
Minister of information and minister of state for youth affairs Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah, addressing the inauguration ceremony, said the information ministry was in the process of appointing sign language interpreters for news bulletins and other programs.
This step, he added, is part of the ministry's contribution to blending the deaf into society and defending their rights.
Sheikh Salman said one of priorities of the ministry of youth affairs' strategy was to attach greater interest to the people with special needs in order to develop their creative and sport skills.
The State of Kuwait believes in the importance of blending the people with special needs in society in all cultural and sport domains, and to be treated equally with their fellow citizens, said the minister.
The government is well aware of the importance of backing the people with special needs "so that our society remain a society of cooperation, progress and openness on all of its segments," he added.
The constitution of Kuwait, said Sheikh Salman, guaranteed rights of all citizens in addition to the law No. VIII of 2010 which organized rights of people with disabilities.
He noted that Kuwait sport club for the deaf was established in 1975 and has 500 members, making it one of the biggest at the Arab and continental levels.
He praised full support of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah to the club.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Thikra Al-Rashidi, senior officials from the Prime Minister Diwan and the Public Authority for Youth and Sport (PAYS).
Chairman of board of Kuwait sport club for the deaf Ismail Karam announced the multi-purpose hall would be named after His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
Addressing the ceremony, Karam said the members of the board and general assembly agreed to name the hall, following a proposal by the club's honorary chairman Fahad Bushaiba.
Karam said the government was keen on supporting people with special needs by increasing the annual financial allocations for the club.
Bushaiba thanked Sheikh Jaber for attending the inauguration ceremony, and thanked Sheikh Salman for keenness to remove all obstacles facing the club. (end) jy.bs