Establishment of CDAF
In 1996, Cambodia Trust (CT), Veteran International
(VI) and Cambodian Disabled People’s Organization (CDPO) jointly arrange a
competitive program to select a group of 5 people with disabilities to have
their artificial legs made in Malaysia. Afterward in 1997, all disabled relevant
organizations held a program called “International Disabled Sports Day (IDSD) ”
on Dec 3rd 1997. Ms. Youko Arimori, Japanese Marathon Runner, Silver
Medalist at Barcelona, Bronze Medalist at Altanta Olympics, Goodwill Ambassador
of UNFPA, Member in the Women Committee of IAAF and Representative Director of
Japanese International NPO/NGO Hearts of Gold (HG), gathered all athletes to
practice the training programs on the weekend (every Saturday and Sunday)
financially supported by HG.
Cambodian Disabled People’s Organization (CDPO) and
National Paralympics Committee of Cambodia (NPCC) dispatched a disabled team to
involve the Asean Para Games in 1998 in Thailand where the event was attended by 44
countries around the world. The disabled team, representative of Cambodia, won
5 medals in the tournaments; it was a great result and pride of Cambodian nation
on the international forum through disabled sports.
Afterward on 25 March 1998, Ms. Yuko Arimori named
and established Cambodian Amateur Athletics Federation (CAAF) joint by a group
of disabled people with a strong will and commitment. The original name of Cambodian
Amateur Athletics Federation (CAAF) was officially altered and turned to
Cambodian Disabled Athletics Federation (CDAF) in 2005, and the name has been
used since then. CDAF is a non-governmental entity working on disabilities and
serving the benefits of people with disabilities in Kingdom of Cambodia.
CDAF gathers, selects and provides disabled sports
training programs to disabled people to train them to be qualified enough in
order that they are able to have a chance for local and international sport
events.
CDAF disabled leadership & management team had
a great honor to receive National Honorable Medals awarded and presided over by
His Excellency Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and President of National
Olympics Committee of Cambodia, representing of his behalf of Prime Minister
Hun Sen, Head of The Royal Government of Cambodia and President of National
Paralympic Committee of Cambodia.
Mission
- To gather people with disabilities from city and provinces throughout
Cambodia via sport activities.
- To promote disabled sports and increase awareness of people with
disabilities in Cambodia.
- To work on disabilities and serve the benefits of people with disabilities
in Cambodia.
Vision
- To eliminate all types of discrimination toward people with disabilities
and to make the public recognize the real abilities of disabled people rather
than to focus on their disabilities.
- To make people with disabilities to have rights to participate fully in
all activities in the society (Social Approach).