Deputy Speaker of the Knesset and Chairman of the Sports Subcommittee, Simon Davidson, participating in the Jerusalem Post online conference, “A Nation in Trauma,” emphasized the role that sport can play in rehabilitation and recovery from trauma.
Davidson, who has been active in the swimming world as a participant and coach for many years, said that he is working in the Knesset to increase awareness of the usefulness of sport in this area.
“My interest in the Knesset is using sport as a tool to help people from darkness to light,” he said. To that end, Davidson brought a group of amputees – including injured IDF soldiers – who play soccer on crutches to the Knesset to play a match against MKs, and convened a special event promoting sport for people with disabilities at the Knesset that attracted 500 people and numerous MKs. “People are beginning to understand that sport is a very good tool to help these people,” says Davidson.
He added that a special beach in Herzliya recently opened that provides access to people with disabilities. Special guides assist disabled visitors in enjoying the beach and the water. “I believe that as a member of the Knesset, I can help organizations and associations to help people with disabilities,” said Davidson.
Davidson pointed to his efforts to build a soccer field and basketball court for evacuees from the war in the Dead Sea area and arranging for children in Tiberias to surf and kayak as examples of how sport helped children rehabilitate from the trauma that they had experienced in the past two years.