Problems Experienced by Wheelchair Sporters in Sports Halls and Sustainable Solution Proposals

*Eylem Çelik, Zekeriya Çelik, Hüseyin Yılmaz Aruntaş, Şefik Taş, Kübra Altunkaynak and Arzuhan Burcu Gültekin* 

#### **Abstract**

 Purpose of this chapter is to attract attention to the problems faced by wheelchair sporters in sports halls and to present some proposals for the elimination of these problems. Regularly made sports create positive development and changes in a person regardless of whether the individual has disability or not. Many of the limited number of sports options for physically disabled individuals can be made in sports halls. Here it is focused on sports halls where sports such as volleyball, basketball, and handball a field football, being among the sports that can be played by wheelchair sporters are being done. Features of sports halls have been tried to be explained in order for these sports to be done in a comfortable and easy way by disabled individuals. Arrangements that will be made in sports halls for wheelchair sporters will both increase participation in sports and improve the life quality of sporters as well. While these arrangements are planned, primary criterion should enable the sporter to realize all his activities in sports hall without requiring the help of anyone. Architectural problems constitute the biggest obstacle in front of wheelchair sporters. In the notification, certain solution proposals have been made that would eliminate architectural problems.

**Keywords:** wheelchair sporters, sports halls, disabled people, disability, architectural arrangements, sustainability

#### **1. Introduction**

 It is quite difficult to make a common definition of disability that can be adopted by everyone. In the Declaration of Rights of Disabled People being accepted by General Council of United Nations, disabled people have been defined as: "Those who cannot realize the works, which a normal person is required to do in his personal or social life, due to a lack in their physical or spiritual skills originating as a result of deficiencies being hereditary or occurring later on in their lives" [1]. If we would like to generalize disability, we could define it as deficiency or incapability in the skills or movements that would be had by a healthy individual. Depending on the situation of deficiency in these skills or movements, disability can be divided

into various groups. These can be counted as mental disability, physical disability, visual disability, aural disability, spastic disability, lack of attention and hyperactivity disorder, common developmental disorder, language and speech disorder, and specific learning difficulties.

It is known that nearly 13% of Turkish population and nearly 15% of world population are composed of disabled people and that highest ratio of disabled population is composed of physically disabled people [2]. These people have to struggle with many spiritual, social, environmental, and restrictive factors due to their disabilities while they continue with their lives. In order for disabled individuals to continue and maintain their psychologic and physical developments, it is very important for them to socialize with the community. One of the most effective methods for this is to play active role in physical activities. However, enabling them to take part in such activeness can be provided by eliminating the situations that restrict them. Each disability group has its own unique restrictive problems. For wheelchair sporters, architectural problems rank in the first row. Limitation of their movement freedom due to these architectural problems, current arrangements are not completely meeting their needs, and trying to use the furniture, fixtures, and fixed elements that have not been designed for them, make their lives quite difficult.

 In order for disabled individuals to take part integrally in social life, it is required to provide them environments where they can realize their daily acts in a comfortable way. It is known that training of disabled people by means of sports branches that are most suitable for them depends on their physical and mental situations that will create positive effects on their physical and spiritual status and improve their self-confidence. For this reason, by directing disabled individuals to sports, the negative conditions they face with can be reduced to minimum level. Sports serve as a very important tool for them to meet with their peers, to integrate with community, and to be relieved from their feeling of loneliness. Sports that is also part of rehabilitation programs being applied, accelerate adaptation of disabled people to the community, improve their feeling of being sufficient for themselves, and improve their capability of holding on to life. Therefore, it is recommended for disabled people to do sports all through their lives.

It is known from the studies being made that among disabled individuals using wheelchairs, those doing regular sports are acting with more self-confidence, determination, and struggle against negative situations they face when compared with individuals using wheelchairs who do not deal with sports [3].

 When disabled people feel that they are deficient in social life generally, they start doing sports. But starting to deal with sports requires big self-confidence and courage. Especially when mentioned about sports for physically disabled people, first one that comes to mind is wheelchair basketball sports and the first preference of disabled people is wheelchair basketball. On the other hand, certain obstacles appear in front of dealing with sports that could not come to mind at the beginning. Some of these obstacles could be counted as coming to sports hall from home, reaching from carpark to building if he has come with a vehicle, absence of ramp within building and ramp slopings not being in accordance with the standard if there is any ramp, door width, absence of ramp next to the stairs, lack of toilet and sink, non-conformity of internal and external architectural arrangements of many halls, apart from the newly built ones, with the disabled people [4].

In "o item" of second article with heading of "Duties and authorizations of General Directorate of Youth and Sports" being stated in Law about Organization and Tasks of General Directorate of Youth and Sports with no 3289 in Turkey, it has been stated that enabling for disabled individuals to deal with sports and

*Problems Experienced by Wheelchair Sporters in Sports Halls and Sustainable Solution Proposals DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836* 

to disseminate them, ensuring that sports facilities are also suitable for usage of disabled people, developing sports training programs and supportive technologies, providing the required materials, to realize works, and publishing for notifying and improving awareness, raising sporters, collaborating with other relevant institutions for the disabled individuals to do sports are among the tasks of General Directorate [5].

 As it is known, sports halls are generally designed in a way to enable various sports branches to be dealt with. Purpose of this study is to investigate the sports halls where sports such as basketball, volleyball, handball, and hall football are played and to determine the problems faced by wheelchair sporters in sports halls and to present solution proposals. Halls where sports such as pool swimming, ice skating, boxing, wrestle, shooting, cycling, riding (manege), and athletism are done have been left outside the scope of research.

#### **2. Sports halls**

As per their spatial features, sports halls can be examined under two headings such as open sports areas and closed sports areas. Spaces that are created by establishing the necessary physical environment for the aimed sports branch to be done without being influenced from negative environmental factors and climate conditions are named as "sports halls". Examples of swimming pools, riding (manege) facilities, basketball/volleyball sports halls, shooting ranges, arenas, fitness halls, and playing halls can be given for sports halls. Sports halls are generally designed to enable for various sports branches to be dealt with in the same venue. Sports such as basketball, volleyball, handball, and football which are played with ball, cushion sports such as gymnastics, wrestle, judo, and kick box and athletics can be given as a few examples for these. It is also possible for spectators to watch this type of sports in the sports halls.

 Primary issue in designing sports halls is to ensure that the aimed sports branch is dealt with in the healthiest way. Area where one or a few sport branches being foreseen will be dealt with should be designed in conformity with current technologies in line with the technical and economic means of community. In the designing of sports halls, changing rooms, sinks, toilets, showers, offices, tribunes, and other spaces will meet the requirements of sporters, spectators, and officials before and during sports contests should be evaluated in integrity.

#### **2.1 History of sports halls**

 In Antique Greece, first sports complex named as "gymnasium" in Greek, has been established with the aim to appease the community, to entertain spectators, to create political agenda, and to raise sporters. The expression of "gymnasium", originating from the word of "gymnasiona" and meaning sports hall is also used in our time. Oldest sports hall in human history, being similar to the known sports hall form, is the stadium-like structure known as Stadia in B.C. fourth century where the sporters reached the field by passing from a tunnel of 32 m and which had a sitting order in shape of U. Contests being held in A.C. 776 in Olympia are accepted as being the oldest Olympic games. As there was need for an area to bring thousands of people gathering to watch these games together, first Olympic stadium where spectators watched the games by standing was built in the stated year in Olympia [6].

When reached to nineteenth century, sport activities came to the forefront and sports being realized as a team were more popular than individual sports. Many

 people who became aware of gaining condition in those dates have put their efforts for sports halls to be had in the schools by thinking that this should be started in early ages. Again in nineteenth century, gymnastic clubs were very popular. In the America of 1930s as the popularity of boxing sports increased, it begun to open boxing sport halls in various places of the country and it started with raising professional or amateur boxers. This sport being still monitored by a quite big mass has left its popularity to fitness halls in time. The years 1960s and 1970s have become the turning point for body builders. At the beginning of 1980s as many corporate companies in USA felt big responsibility for the health of their employees, it was started with corporate gymnastics training and in this way, many sports hall chains were established in 1980s. During the period between 1990s and today, the value of doing sports and especially doing individual and group activities with professional trainers in the sports halls has disseminated mainly in USA and throughout the world in waves [6].

#### **2.2 Features of sports halls**

Disabled individuals have the right to benefit freely from all the opportunities being benefited by the community just like all other individuals. For this purpose, it is required to consider the requirements of disabled individuals in the architectural designing and building of sports halls. For sporters using wheelchairs starting from the project design stage, it is required to design each space and building element such as external spaces, entries-exits, hall access, changing rooms, resting and activity areas, sinks, toilets and showers, and doors by considering the requirements of these people and it is required for them to be built by considering every detail. Main topics to be considered in order for wheelchair sporters to act comfortably in sports halls can be evaluated under two headings as internal and external space designs.

#### *2.2.1 External space designs*

#### *2.2.1.1 Carparks*

 Park place arrangements should be made for disabled individuals who realize their own transportations with the private vehicles that are specially produced for disabled individuals. In case there is sufficient area for this, it is required to build a private carpark area for disabled people and in contrary case, it is required to allocate a place in the general carpark area to meet the capacity of disabled sporters (**Figures 1** and **2**).

#### *2.2.1.2 Pavements*

In order for wheelchairs to be easily lifted, it is required for ramps to be built for disabled individuals in accordance with standards at appropriate places of pavements in a way not to interrupt with continuity between pavement and carpark on the ground. Sloping of ramps should not exceed 10% (**Figure 3**).

#### *2.2.1.3 Building access*

It is required for sporters using wheelchairs to reach the building entrance without receiving any help after reaching the area where sports hall is situated by means of a vehicle.

*Problems Experienced by Wheelchair Sporters in Sports Halls and Sustainable Solution Proposals DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836* 

#### **Figure 1.**

*Parking place for the vehicle of disabled person and area required for movement (measures being in inches and mm) [7].* 

**Figure 2.** 

*Figures where disabled people approach the vehicle and carpark for disabled people [8].* 

#### **Figure 3.**

*Pavement zeroing application that enables continuity on ground (measurements being in mm) [9].* 

#### *2.2.1.4 Main entrance*

It is required for direct access to be provided at the ground level of main entrance at the same elevation or by means of an appropriate ramp from the ground to the main entrance door. Building entrance door should not have any sills and at the entrance halls there should be movement area needed for wheelchairs. This movement area should be composed of a circle with minimum diameter of 150 cm and it should not be blocked with any door opening, fixture, bulges, or furniture.

#### *2.2.1.5 Ramps*

 Ramps are inclined planes that combine transportation areas having different elevations. Ramps are very important as they provide uninterrupted transportation means for wheelchair sporters. Ramp slopes are generally in the interval of 5 and 10%. At places where elevation difference is up to 10 cm, maximum ramp slope should be 10%; at places where the difference is up to 25 cm, maximum ramp slope should be 8.25%; and at places where elevation difference is up to 50 cm, maximum ramp slope should be 5%. At elevation differences where very short ramps are required, if it is required, slope should not exceed 12%. If the length of ramp exceeds 6 m, ramp should be divided to two parts and a stoop should be built in between with a length of 150 cm. Ramp widths could be 13 cm on the average. At places where fixed ramps can not be arranged, mobile ramps can be arranged by providing necessary conditions (**Figure 4**) [9].

**Figure 4.**  *Wheelchair ramp [9].* 

#### *2.2.1.6 Sills*

At the passages between venues, surfaces should be at the same level. Even a small bulge could cause a risk for wheelchair sporters. In situations where sills are much required, by smoothing the elevation difference, small ramps should be used on both sides of the sill.

#### *2.2.2 Internal space designs*

#### *2.2.2.1 Staircases*

 A well designed staircase should be safe for wheelchair sporters who can walk by getting help. Since staircases with geometric uncertainties can create dangers for disabled people, staircases with flat flight and stoop should be preferred. On both sides of staircase, railing with circular sections as having height of 90 cm and diameter of 4 cm could be placed. Distance of railing on the wall side, from the wall should be 4 cm. On the staircases, stair width should be 28–30 cm and riser height should be 15–16 cm and attention should be paid for riser elevations to be equal and no ribbed sections should be left on the stairs (**Figure 5**) [9].

*Problems Experienced by Wheelchair Sporters in Sports Halls and Sustainable Solution Proposals DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836* 

**Figure 5.**  *Staircases and railing (measures being in mm) [9].* 

#### *2.2.2.2 Elevators*

 Starting from building entrance, it should be possible to reach elevator door without any steps and sills. Control knobs in the elevators should be at a height that is reachable by wheelchair sporters. Cabin measures of elevator that can be used by wheelchair sporters should be minimum 110 × 140 cm. Cabin measures of elevator that can be used also by other people together with wheelchair sporter should be minimum 200 × 140 cm. At the front of elevator, cabin sufficient area should be left as per usage purpose and elevator capacity. Elevator entrance should be designed in a way enabling wheelchair to be easily placed in the cabin and maneuvers to be made. Within the cabin, there should be holding bands with height of 900 mm. Cabin floor should not be covered with carpets. It should be preferred to keep a phone inside the cabin and to have a small sitting place that can be opened and closed (**Figure 6**) [10].

**Figure 6.**  *Internal dimensions of elevator (measures being in mm) [11].* 

#### *2.2.2.3 Corridors*

 In the corridors especially, elevation differences and obstacles that avoid continuity on the ground should not be present. Corridor width should be 180 cm and attention should be paid for turning distances and maneuver areas not to have dimensions less than 150 x 150 cm. In required places in order to maintain ground continuity, appropriate ramps should be used. In the corridors and halls where there are two opposite and parallel doors, the dimensions should be adequate to enable wheelchair sporter to close the first door and to open the second door after entering in the corridor or hall. The distance required for this is equal to 2× door width + 157 cm. Another particular that can create problems is related with sills being formed to avoid water to pass to the balcony. If the height of this sill exceeds 2 cm, appropriate ramps should absolutely be created. It should be preferred for radiators, fire cupboards, alarms, and similar equipment which are present in the halls not to form any bulges [10].

#### *2.2.2.4 Doors*

 First problem we are faced with in sports halls as related with internal space designing with doors enabling for passages between main entrance and spaces. Primary preference for disabled people is to leave gap areas instead of limiting the passages between spaces with the doors. But in places where privacy should be preserved, it could be required for doors to be used. Doors that will be used in such cases should be sliding doors with automatic controlling as complying with technological developments. Using leaf doors is quite difficult for wheelchair sporters. If hinged door has been used, it is required for opening distance to enable wheelchair sporter to move comfortably and to maneuver easily. Doors having hydraulic systems should not be preferred as their controlling requires big strength. Place of mechanisms on the doors, functioning capacity of these mechanisms, and dimensions of door gaps should be arranged in accordance with movement freedom of sporters (**Figures 7**–**9**) [12].

**Figure 8.**  *Net width required in swing doors (measurements being in mm) [9].* 

Hardware on the doors should also be arranged as fitting to wheelchair sporters. Door handle height should be in the interval of 90–110 cm and it should be preferred in the form requiring weak skills for being used. If peephole is required, elevation of peephole from the ground should be 80 cm and it should be at an opening distance of minimum 20 cm from door beginning [10].

*Problems Experienced by Wheelchair Sporters in Sports Halls and Sustainable Solution Proposals DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836* 

**Figure 9.**  *Dimensions required in entrance doors and interior doors (measures in mm) [9].* 

#### *2.2.2.5 Switch and socket heights*

Elevation of switches, press buttons, and buttons requiring manual adjustments from the ground should be in interval of 75–120 cm and elevation of control switch buttons should be in the interval of 120–140 cm. Wall sockets should be placed at an elevation of 40–100 cm from the ground and they should have protecting covers [10].

#### *2.2.2.6 WC, bathroom/showers, and sinks*

 As the efforts put in and the time spent by wheelchair sporters for having movement capability are more than the efforts put in and time spent by other people, time they spend in WC and bathroom can be longer than that of other individuals. For this reason, WC and bathroom should be designed as two separate sections for disabled people. In wet spaces, for having safety doors should be opened towards outside and a maneuver area with a diameter of 150 cm should be left in the reachable space. There should be no sills or other elevations while entering WC. There should absolutely be closets for wheelchair sporters and closets should be mounted to the wall or they should be mounted to the ground. Depth of section where closet is placed should be minimum 142 cm. When depth is minimum 160 cm, closet mounted to the wall can be used and when depth is 165 cm, closet mounted to the ground can be used. Toilets should be arranged to fit both for usage by the right hand and by the left hand. Holding bands can be placed vertically or horizontally on both sides of closet. It is preferred for closet sitting height to be adjustable. But for closets where the height is fixed, the elevation should not exceed 49 cm. Siphon handle should be at a maximum height of 110 cm from the ground. Bidets should be situated at a maximum height of 43 cm from the ground and they should be fixed to the wall. Section that will be used as a sink should have a gap area where wheelchair can enter. Vertical measure of this gap area should be minimum 73 cm. There should be a net area with dimensions of 75 cmx120 cm to reach the sink from the front. Disabled sporter should be able to use the sink while sitting on the closet. If mirrors will be used inside WC, movable mirrors should be preferred and if they are fixed, they should be hanged as having slope of 10°–15° towards the front (**Figure 10**) [13].

In the connection of bathroom with other spaces, there should be no elevation differences on the ground and at required areas supporting should be provided

#### **Figure 10.**

*Wet space arrangements (mm) [9].* 

 with ramps. For ensuring privacy of disabled person, he should be able to approach the shower bath alone and all arrangements should be made in accordance with the rules for him to meet his needs. In order for him to use bathrooms comfortably, there should be handles, seats, emergency case buttons, and telephones in appropriate places. Handles should be placed at areas where he should act independently from the wheelchair by considering the holding dimensions. Bathroom floor should not be wet and sliding. Seat that will be used in the shower bath should be safely placed and it should be put right opposite full hardware seat being placed in the cabin. Edges of shower bath should be designed not to create obstacles for the passage between wheelchair and the seat [13].

#### *2.2.2.7 Notification boards and signs*

Starting from carpark area of sports hall, appropriate visual or aural warnings, and warning signs and notification boards should be placed in each space inside the hall such as main entrance door, passages between spaces, elevators, wet spaces such as WC and bathroom, areas with ramps, and glass sections by considering the usage purposes, features of each space, and particulars to be paid attention to. Signs and plates that define the places and directions in emergency cases and emergency case equipment should be put in places that can be easily seen by disabled people in accordance with the rules.

*Problems Experienced by Wheelchair Sporters in Sports Halls and Sustainable Solution Proposals DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836* 

#### *2.2.2.8 Play areas*

 In this notification features of halls being required for branches such as basketball, volleyball, handball, and hand football, which are among the sports that can be done in sports halls by individuals using wheelchairs, have been considered. Fields where these sports will be realized should have dimensions and features as per FIBA standards. In order for these sports to be played in a more comfortable and professional way, it is required for private wheelchairs to be used. It is required for play areas to be kept as dry, clean, free of obstacles, and with no slopes, as being always ready for the plays. It is expected for field officials to be ready for their tasks on the field with great care and as being ready by getting private training. At the field side, there should be an appropriate resting area with adequate capacity for sporters. By considering all types of negative events that can be faced with during the plays, health personnel should be assigned on the field continuously. Fields should be regularly controlled by officials before the plays and regular maintenance works for ground furnishing and metal spares should be done.

#### **3. Problems faced by wheelchair sporters in sports halls and solution proposals**

Fundamental problem of disabled people is related with meeting their needs without getting help, carrying out their daily activities, and benefiting from social areas. On the basis of approach that sporters using wheelchairs are different from other individuals, trying to help them instead of producing designs, and solution proposals as being unique for their movement capabilities can be accepted as the most general problem. While this approach creates inequality among the individuals of community, it also constitutes the basis of psychological and developmental problems. Individuals using wheelchairs have the right to benefit from all types of social areas in accordance with their capabilities. Opportunity should be provided for them to use these rights alone without hurting their sense of self. On the other case, as a result of their avoiding, the activities being carried out with the help of companions, it does not seem possible for them to gain the habit of using sports halls.

When sports halls are examined starting from their entrance sections, ramps, staircases, space sections, furnishing coatings, type, dimensions and placement of furniture, and necessary maneuver areas constitute the subjects requiring most attention to be paid to. Problems starting from the car park in sports halls continue from building main entrance to the play field. Having access difficulties inside sports hall causes problems to be faced while disabled people start with their regular sports lives. Arrangements at wet spaces being the places where disabled people face the biggest burdens, require especially good designing to be made both with respect to privacy issues and also with regards to hygiene particulars. Resting area is an important space where sporters filled with energy both physically and psychologically. For this reason at the resting spaces, there should be no physical restrictions for sporters.

 Main problem among those experienced by wheelchair sporters is related with reaching the hall. These sporters can reach the hall in some way with the private vehicles they find. Obtaining such vehicles cannot always be possible. On the other hand, many of the transportation vehicles being operated by municipality are not suitable for disabled people. There is elevator or ramp mechanism in only a few of these vehicles. In USA, Florida municipality buses have the hardware that facilitate people's getting easily on the vehicles and the drivers help disabled people as they get on and off the buses.

 Accessibility problem of disabled individual starts as he leaves the door of his house. This situation is similar in sports halls. Since the entrances of some of the sports halls being built in the previous dates were made without considering the disabled people, first difficulty is experienced while entering the building. Because at the entrance, ramp has not been considered for disabled people using wheelchairs. Disabled sporter who manages to enter the hall with the help of a companion or other people, experiences the second problem while he tries to reach the changing rooms. Since the doors of many of these rooms are built as narrow, they cannot enter with wheelchairs. Door sills, doors with hydraulic systems, differences between ground surfaces, inappropriate designs of WC and showers, and similar design problems cause movements to be restricted inside the sports hall. It is almost impossible for a sporter to move in a sports hall not being designed for disabled people. It can only be possible for him to make maneuvers easy with wheelchair and to have access to the opportunities with the help of another individual. Disabled sporter experiences problems while progressing some of the sports halls, as there are staircase steps in the corridors and there are no ramps. Since the staircases are passed each time with the help of companion, after a while, family members or volunteers acting as assistants for the person do not wish to come to the hall with the disabled sporter. For this reason, it is not possible to mention about accessibility for the disabled sporter in sports hall. This situation causes for wheelchair users to get away from sports halls.

 A sports hall where there is no accessibility gives rise to negative outcomes both with respect to their privacy and with regards to their psychological and social developments. Since the showers which disabled individual will use following the training or after the match have been designed for healthy people, this situation avoids them to have access to shower space and shower equipment. Besides since shower and sink/WC doors designed as narrow, they cannot answer to their needs. It is required for these doors to be widened. Since the sporters using wheelchairs in the city of Van in Turkey could enter the hall only from one match to another due to the above stated problems (reaching to the hall, having training, etc.), they have become unsuccessful and they have fallen to a lower league as a club.

It is required for individuals using wheelchairs to get training to learn about the sports branch they are interested in as per their capabilities. Number of trainers who can provide necessary training to these people is quite insufficient. Reason for the insufficient capacity of trainers and personnel required to be present in sports halls is due to the officials' not attaching necessary importance to this issue. Especially, usage of wheelchairs occurring later in their lives increases the requirement of these individuals for training.

 Architectural designs in internal and external areas of sports halls should be arranged by considering the movement capability of wheelchair sporters. Appropriate arrangements will enable for problems originating from restriction of their movement capabilities to be reduced to minimum level. In the wet spaces where disabled people experience biggest burdens in sports halls, nonslip floor furnishing should be used and there should be handles at appropriate heights on the walls.

 All the doors of sports halls should have appropriate widths. Outside the building at places where there are elevation differences, ramps with appropriate slopes should absolutely be designed. In the buildings, ramps with appropriate widths should be placed next to the staircases. In the showers, support elements to which disabled people can hold on to should be used and it is required for equipment

*Problems Experienced by Wheelchair Sporters in Sports Halls and Sustainable Solution Proposals DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836* 

being used in the sinks and WC areas to be mounted on the walls or furnishing at a height that can be easily reached by them. While spaces and equipment created for disabled people can be used by healthy people, spaces and objects made for healthy people cannot be used by disabled people.

Physical and motor development of disabled individuals should be regularly monitored and as per the results, if required, period of training programs should be extended and development level should be regularly monitored. Movement training and physical application programs being implemented in sports halls should be continuously reviewed and development works should be monitored by the officials. In each sports hall, physical training teachers or sports specialists with numbers meeting the capacity of wheelchair users and being able to apply the movement training should be present. In order to eliminate the obstacles, solutions including concepts such as accessibility, designing with no obstacles, universal designing, and designing for everyone should be increased.

In order to increase participation of disabled people in sports, public institutions, private institutions, schools, and all relevant institutions should provide opportunities for sports with the appropriate planning. Within scope of these planning, areas such as hall entrance-exit, changing rooms, areas for meeting private needs (toilets, showers, and personal care) should bear features enabling them to be easily used by disabled people. It is also required for personnel who will be assigned at the facilities to get training accordingly. Furthermore in order to contribute for disabled people to use these facilities, it is also required to provide opportunities for disabled individuals to take from their homes and return back in the same way. Tools and equipment needed by sporters using wheelchairs in the sports halls can be provided to them by local administrations.

#### **4. Conclusions**

Researches being made reveal that sports is a phenomenon that improves health of disabled person with respect to physiological and psychological aspects and that regulates his social attitudes. While participating in sports or any physical activity enables for the person to discover his different identity and roles, it also provides the opportunity for him to perceive his skills and it enhances the group feeling and reduces awareness of disability. Regular sports applications in physically disabled individuals play important role both in their daily life activities and in improving their life qualities. It is required for an environment being built with physical surrounding not to inhibit a disabled person using wheelchair. By implementing certain standards, a sports hall enabling for people using wheelchairs to act comfortably can be built. Disabled people managing to do certain works as independent individuals without getting the help of others in their sports lives, their being able to do movements necessitating physical strength, their being successful are directly related with accessibility level of spaces where they are present. In the sports halls, all types of physical barriers avoiding the movement and playing capabilities of wheelchair users should be eliminated. Before sports halls are built, the opinions of disabled individuals should be considered and it will be beneficial to realize architectural arrangements carefully starting from project stage until the application stage in all the sports halls to be built newly.

#### **Author details**

Eylem Çelik1 , Zekeriya Çelik1 , Hüseyin Yılmaz Aruntaş 2 \*, Şefik Taş 3 , Kübra Altunkaynak4 and Arzuhan Burcu Gültekin<sup>5</sup>

1 Department of Coaching Education, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey

2 Department of Civil Engineering, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

3 Van Metropolitan Municipality, Van, Turkey

4 Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, Ankara, Turkey

5 Department of Real Estate Development and Management, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

\*Address all correspondence to: aruntas@gazi.edu.tr

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

*Problems Experienced by Wheelchair Sporters in Sports Halls and Sustainable Solution Proposals DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836* 

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Section 2

Sustainable Building

Materials

Section 2
