“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand.” We have always believed in these words by Nelson Mandela, a keen athlete himself, who used the power of sport to heal his country after the horrors of apartheid. It’s also why, as schools and football programmes restart in Cambodia, one of the first things we did was organise an All Abilities football tournament.

Our All Abilities events only began four years ago, but have rapidly become one of the most beloved and valued elements of our programme. As in many countries, Cambodian people with disabilities are often marginalised and hidden from public view. Their opportunities to enjoy and learn from sport are extremely limited. Our football programme has always strived to change that and now reaches 3,500 children across the country, of whom 8.5% are players living with disabilities and HIV.

For our first All Abilities event, we set out to do something that had never been done before in Cambodia: we created a major football event specifically designed to include these marginalised groups. Our first event focused on players with intellectual disabilities and was a huge success, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who took part, not least our own staff.

Over the years, we’ve expanded the event and our overall Football Programme to include players with physical disabilities, visual and hearing impairments and HIV. We have learned to create forms of football which are adapted to work for each of these groups, whether they use wheelchairs or are unable to see. It has enormously expanded our own ideas of what is possible in sport, and many of our coaches have become experts at adapting football to highlight the strengths of the players we work with.

After months of uncertainty and isolation, we knew the joy that a sports tournament would bring the vulnerable players we work with, and our coaches were just as excited to resume hosting events as special as this one. So on a hot Saturday in September, our new All Abilities event took place – hosting 92 players who had travelled from across the country to ISF Sports Ground to compete. Despite rules on temperature checking, mask wearing and restricted contact, the event was an enormous success that gave players a chance to have fun, show off their talents, gain confidence, learn new skills, and make new friends.

“I couldn’t go to school and play football with my friends because COVID-19 made it very dangerous,” said Theara*, an exhilarated six-year-old we spoke to on the day. “So this was my first time playing football again, and it is such a big and great sports ground so it has been a really exciting day. I definitely want to join more ISF events in the future.”

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Samedy Yin, Head of ISF’s Football Programme, said the entire football team had to work hard to make the event a success in such a short space of time after only receiving confirmation in August that we could host the event. However, our experienced team pulled together to create a fun tournament that not only protected the players from the spread of COVID-19 but also from the sun too! Our coaches ensured everyone left everyone smiling, especially two teams of players living with HIV from our partner organisations Happy Tree and Bright Hope who took home the lion’s share of prizes.

“It’s such an important event for us,” says Samedy. “I really want it to show all Cambodians that disabled people have an equal right to enjoy sport, and that they also have their own talents and values. Instead of discriminating against disabled people, Cambodians should treat them fairly and encourage them to play sports. I always get excited about this day because I think this event provides a safe space for all players to have fun, get to know each other and show their talents.”

And the players agreed! “I really loved today, I got a chance to meet my friends and some new people. I had so much fun,” said Sam Sotheary*, a 14-year-old girl with Down’s Syndrome. “I want to come back again and again.”

*names of children under 18 are changed to protect their privacy