Lassam Katongo

Started: He began the sport at age 10 at primary school in Zambia. (Athlete, 02 Sep 2024) Reason: "I love the sport and also for fitness." (Athlete, 02 Sep 2024) Ambition: He hopes to inspire more Zambian athletes into sport. (Athlete, 02 Sep 2024) Awards: He received the 'I'mPOSSIBLE' Male Athlete Recognition Award from the International Paralympic Committee [IPC] during the closing ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. The award was presented for his contribution to the IPC's 'I'mPOSSIBLE' Paralympic education programme. (paralympic.org, 31 Aug 2021) He was Zambia's flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. (paralympic.org, 29 Aug 2012) Additional Info: INCLUSION PROGRAMME Supported by the Zambian Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Child Development, and the Ministry of General Education, he and two other teachers have run an inclusion and awareness programme called Sports Against Stigma in Zambia. "People living with albinism will not be left out, people with other challenges, any disability, all of them are included in this programme, because all these people have the ability to participate in sports. There are those who can do wheelchair races or those who can do wheelchair basketball. We will need to make sure people understand, to say don't keep your child [away]." (maravipost.com, 12 Apr 2021) OTHER ACTIVITIES He has served as a board member of the National Paralympic Committee of Zambia. (insidethegames.biz, 05 Sep 2021; parliament.gov.zm, 15 Jun 2019)