World Down Syndrome Day 2024 - Special Olympics Senegal Director Rajah Sy: ‘Inclusion is our keyword’
On World Down Syndrome Day, we celebrate the achievements of a woman who has dedicated the last 20 years to assisting children affected by this genetic condition and other intellectual disabilities. Find out how sports can be a powerful tool of inclusion.
“How can we help these young people who have an intellectual disability and are often ostracised, marginalised, and stigmatised? How can we ensure that they are accepted as they are?”
Breaking down barriers and promoting inclusion through sports has been Rajah Diouri Sy's goal for almost 20 years since she joined the Senegalese branch of Special Olympics.
Since 1968, this global organisation - recognised by the International Olympic Committee - has been providing sports training and athletic competitions all year round for individuals with intellectual disabilities. This allows them to showcase their potential and join activities with their familiis and communities.
“At Special Olympics, we give everyone a chance,” Sy said. "Inclusion is our keyword."
A daunting task, made even more challenging in the West African country, where resources for medical care, education, and social services are scarcer than in more developed nations, and where intellectual disabilities are often stigmatised.
To celebrate World Down Syndrome Day, we spoke with Rajah Sy, who has served as a volunteer director at Special Olympics Senegal since 2011, working with many children affected by this genetic condition, including her daughter (pictured above).
During this interview, which took place last November at the Dakar en Jeux Festival, we learned more about her inspiring story, the extraordinary results she achieved, and the transformative power of sports as a tool of inclusion.
‘A virus entered me’
“Special Olympics and I have a long history that started in 2006,” Sy recalled with a smile.
She credits her eldest daughter Khadija, who was born with Down Syndrome and is an avid runner, for introducing her to this new world. The girl had joined the Special Olympics athletics team in Dakar, and her mother began taking her to training sessions.
“That's when the 'virus' entered me and I became completely committed to the organisation,” Sy said.
In 2006, as a parent, Sy accompanied Khadija to Lloret de Mar, Spain, for the World Games, a multi-sport event organised by Special Olympics International and held every two years.
At that time, Senegal had a total of six athletes, and only four of them took part in the event.
“We realised that we needed to organise ourselves, to become a true Special Olympics structure,” Sy said. “And that's when I was appointed as secretary general in the new board of directors. Then, in 2011, I was designated as national director, always on volunteer basis.”
Khadija Sy, the eldest daughter of Rajah Sy, has been a Special Olympics athlete since the 2011 World Games
A complicated mission
Thanks to Sy’s efforts, Special Olympics Senegal now operates in nine cities, serving over 3,000 athletes with the help of more than 400 volunteers and support staff.
Despite the growing numbers, Sy's job has been far from easy.
“Sometimes, the medical community is not ready to receive children with intellectual disabilities,” she said.
Education also poses challenges for parents. According to UNICEF, the number of Senegalese children with disabilities is estimated at more than 35,000, and more than half of them are not able to attend school.
“It's often extremely difficult to get their child admitted to a regular school,” Sy explained.
Then there's “the gaze of others", which often affects mothers, who tend to take the blame if their child looks different.
"This gaze from the community can have a negative impact on the family," Sy said. "And often, the mother is abandoned by the father. Disability drives them away. Therefore, children in families with a child with an intellectual disability are sometimes in families facing enormous difficulties, both financial and psychological.”
‘Sports are at the heart of Special Olympics’
Despite these challenges, Sy and her organisation have managed to achieve significant results.
“We have helped the community to change their perception of intellectual disability and to accept our youth in their neighbourhoods,” she said, highlighting the role of sports activities.
“We know that sports have tremendous transformative power. Sports allow each of us to showcase the champion within. Sports enhance abilities. Sports change perspectives. Sports facilitate interactions," Sy continued. "Sports are at the heart of the Special Olympics' mission. When we use the term 'athletes', we value them and they feel important."
While the majority of events at the Paralympic Games feature athletes who have a physical disability and compete at a high level, Special Olympics include athletes with intellectual disabilities and offer opportunities for those with different skill levels to participate.
“At Special Olympics, anyone can participate in sports, regardless of their athletic ability," Sy said. "Whether they run the 100 metres in 20 seconds or run it in 30 seconds, or even if they run it in 15 seconds, they will always compete in their category, meaning with athletes who are of similar age and possess similar athletic abilities.”
Ablaye Ndiaye was one of the most charismatic athletes during the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin
Ablaye Ndiaye and more examples of integration
The national director proudly remembers how the Special Olympics programmes have helped change attitudes toward intellectual disabilities in Senegal.
“We have two athletes. When they returned from the World Games, they were welcomed as heroes in their neighbourhood, whereas before, that was not the case,” Sy said.
Some of the Special Olympics athletes from Senegal have even become celebrities. This is the case for basketball player Ablaye Ndiaye, who grabbed media headlines during the 2023 World Games in Berlin for his iconic celebrations.
“He became the mascot of the national team but also became a mascot internationally,” Sy said with pride. “He had an extraordinary aura. He made the stadium vibrate with his way of celebrating, living his joy, and showing that he is happy. Ablaye for us truly was a revelation this year, and he has become an international star.”
Such stories of success are not limited to sports.
Sy recalled Jeanne, who arrived at her first medical consultation being carried on her brother's back. After joining their weekly training session, she has now become independent.
“She manages to do her laundry,” Sy said. “Today, she is participating in family life and for her, it has changed the world. It has also changed the world for her mother and her brother.”
Another girl, who initially struggled to interact with her peers, saw her life transformed by Special Olympics so much that she is now part of their media team.
“She's a champion of TikTok," Sy said. "She goes live on TikTok, assists us, films, edits, takes photos, and is truly an integral part of the media team."
A message of inclusion ahead of Dakar 2026
Despite the progress achieved, Sy prefers not to rest on her laurels.
“There are still things to accomplish, there is still advocacy to continue to ensure that this education, which we call inclusive education, which we all wish for, becomes a reality for all Special Olympics athletes,” she said.
During the last few years, Special Olympics Senegal has signed partnerships with the local government and international institutions, such as the United Nations and UNICEF, and their aim is now to be present in all 14 regions and 53 departments of the country.
However, Sy's long-term plans are even more ambitious. Her dream is to build a multi-sports and vocational training centre to help kids with intellectual disabilities learn professional skills and integrate into the workforce.
“They are often marginalised, yet they too want, like their peers, to become independent, take charge of their lives, and support their families,” Sy said.
While Sy may not be in charge of Special Olympics Senegal anymore when the Youth Olympic Games take place in her city at the end of 2026, she hopes her message of inclusion can be her lasting legacy.
“We must include everyone. Everyone should have the opportunity to participate in sports, go to school, and receive medical care,” she said.
“So to these young people who will be in Dakar in 2026, who will participate in sports activities, I would say, ‘keep an open mind, be positive, look at the world, and see what you can do to change it'. What can you do to make this world more inclusive and to attract, to have with you, by your side, your comrades who have an intellectual disability.”