For any production of space, it is the responsibility of the architect or designer to design an environment that is barrier-free and accessible for all. Users with disabilities are also a part of society, and Universal Design reinforces their equity and social inclusion. As per the Guidelines for Accessible Sports Complex and Residential Facilities for Sports Persons with Disabilities by the Government of India, “Universal Design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.” These guidelines are prepared to bridge the gap in the technical know-how of the physical infrastructure, disability-specific instructions, and safety instructions needed for a barrier-free environment. Universal design in Sports Complexes and residential facilities allows for the inclusion of participants into sports for the visually and the hearing-challenged, Special Olympics, and the Para-Olympics and allows cross-disability accessibility.
Importance of Universal Design
Universal Design caters to users with disability, children, and senior citizens. A wheelchair user, a person with a buggie, suitcase, trolley, or with mobility aid can use a ramp at an entryway. Similarly, larger toilet compartments can be used by wheelchair users, parents with pushchairs or small children, and people with mobility aids. Clear and well-placed signage not only help people with reading and cognitive difficulties, it also aids those who are unable to read the language. Sometimes one solution will not suffice, leading to multiple solutions like providing ramps and stairs, equipment that caters to people of different heights, etc. A barrier-filled environment heightens the confusion, anxiety, stress, and insecurity in the minds of the users with a disability making them feel disempowered. Adopting Universal Design guidelines by the sports and residential complexes creates empowerment and fosters social inclusivity.
Space Standards applied to New and Existing Buildings
People of any age, gender, or disability can use the spaces provided as per the Universal Design guidelines applicable to new and existing buildings. Stadiums and Sports complexes should be fully accessible for people with cross-disability with a barrier-free gallery, at least one shower room, washroom, and changing room per facility. A minimum of two rooms, one washroom, and one shower room in the residential facility should be wheelchair accessible on the ground floor for easy escape in the case of fire. These guidelines comply with national and international access regulations. It covers the access requirement facilities for Approach, Parking, Main Entrance, Reception & Enquiry Counter, Corridors, Vertical Circulation, Elevator, Stairs, Ramp, Handrails, Toilets, Changing rooms, Spectator Seating Area (Indoor & Outdoor) and Emergency Evacuation and Exterior and Interior Finishes, Doors with Hardware, Floor Finishes and Signage.
Barrier free facilities at the Olympics in East Asia
In the above context, the Universal Design at the Beijing 2022 Paralympics Winter Games, is remarkable. The construction of The athlete’s villages across the three competition zones of Central Beijing, the Chinese capital Yanqing district, and Zhangjiakou in the neighboring Hebei province followed the barrier-free principles since day one. The National Aquatic Center and the National Indoor Stadium, venues for para ice hockey and wheelchair curling, and the winter paralympic village were the most accessible venues.
At the National Aquatic Center, the venue for swimming and diving at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the area around the arena called the “Ice Cube” was provided with barrier-free facilities. Increasing the door widths for temperature checking to incorporate anti-epidemic measures and lowering the heights of the placement tables for the disabled athletes were its highlights. The retrofitting of passenger elevators, removal of doorsteps, and the barrier-free access routes from the locker room to the pitch to accommodate athletes with a disability was the highlight at the National Indoor Stadium, the paralympic Ice hockey venue. Wheelchair-accessible stands were provided at the entrance of each arena with protruding balconies to make them closer to the pitch and to enjoy a great viewing experience. At the Winter Paralympic Village, sliding doors with handles, nonslip bathroom floors with safety bars, and dismantling of beds to suit the height requirements made them completely accessible. It was further enhanced through smart features like controlling lamps, Air conditioning units, and curtains through apps.
The use of high-end technology and research to aid in the Paralympics is extraordinary. AI sign language platforms with digital avatars aid in language translation and live interpretation within minutes especially for hearing-impaired athletes. Intelligent motion perception and assistant training systems help in position monitoring for each athlete and helps coaches to create personalized training regimes for daily training and practice. Research on each athlete’s body condition and degree of disability helps the athletes to focus on their strengths. Additionally, a team of psychologists through their questionnaires and counseling sessions, uplift their moods and help in overcoming their fears.
At the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, which was postponed to 2021 due to Covid 19, there was an effort to make the accessibility equipment available to the citizens with a long-term investment plan. Here the Paralympics organizing committee backed up by the Ministry of Territory, Infrastructure and Tourism developed the accessibility guidelines. The main focus was making the access routes and movement areas free of obstacles with ramps and elevators providing no-risk ground surfaces with directional indicators and tactile paths. Also, 0.5% of the spectator seating area was allotted to people with reduced mobility. Unisex toilets and changing rooms for wheelchair users ensured the accommodation of paralympic athletes.
Conclusion
Learnings from the Universal Design at the Beijing 2022 Paralympics Winter Games and the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo proclaim to the society that real social inclusiveness can be accomplished through an integration of barrier-free facilities, high-end technologies, research, and through taking care of the mental health of the athletes. Providing barrier-free facilities at the sports venues not only facilitates the Paralympic games but will continue to serve its purpose even after the event is over. Thus it becomes a permanent feature of the sports complex. This gesture not only fosters social inclusiveness but also shows the care that we can offer to people with disabilities.
Reference
- Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Accessibility Equipment Update [online]. Available at: https://www.inclusivecitymaker.com/olympic-games-tokyo-2020-accessibility/ [Accessed date: 15 July 2023].
- Beijing Winter Paralympics motivate China to promote barrier-free society [online]. Available at: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-03-18/Beijing-2022-motivates-China-to-promote-barrier-free-society-18vxQXWg4Uw/index.html [Accessed date: 15 July 2023].
- Technologies, accessible facilities at Beijing Winter Paralympics venues demonstrate ‘China’s warmth’ [online]. Available at: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202203/1254107.shtml [Accessed date: 15 July 2023].
- Draft Guidelines Focusing on Sports Persons with Disabilities Released. Available at: https://www.foxmandal.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AIC-Guidelines-English.pdf [Accessed date: 15 July 2023].
