When stadiums inadvertently shut out people with disabilities
A bird’s-eye view of Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Persons with disabilities in Tanzania continue to face significant barriers in accessing and using sports stadiums due to infrastructural inadequacies. PHOTO | FILE
Dar/Arusha. Persons with disabilities in Tanzania continue to face significant barriers in accessing and using sports stadiums due to infrastructure that fails to accommodate their needs, effectively excluding them from social life despite laws that promote inclusion and equality.
A three-month (October to December 2025) investigation by The Citizen, conducted in Dar es Salaam and Arusha regions, has found that many sports stadiums, particularly those hosting football matches, are not designed to serve people with physical, visual or hearing impairments.
