What happens when physical activity begins with the person rather than the performance?

This question shaped the scientific seminar “Adapted Physical Activity: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Health, Inclusion, and Quality of Life,” organized by the Faculty of Sport Sciences (FSS) at Antonine University (UA) on September 16, 2026, as part of the Lebanese National Sports Week, an initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Held at UA’s Hadat–Baabda Campus under the patronage of the Ministry and in the presence of H.E. Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian, Minister of Youth and Sports, the seminar brought together perspectives from sport sciences and health around a common premise: physical activity can and should respond to different abilities, health conditions, needs, and stages of life.

The event opened with remarks by UA Rector Fr. Michel Saghbiny and H.E. Dr. Bayrakdarian, with Ms. Rita Jabbour, part-time instructor and researcher at the Laboratoire des 3S : Sport, Santé, Société (L3S) within the FSS, serving as master of ceremony.

From Sport for Athletes to Sport for All

In his opening address, Fr. Saghbiny situated adapted physical activity within the University’s broader responsibility toward people and society, stressing that physical activity is “a right and an opportunity for every person.”

He highlighted three interconnected dimensions: health, inclusion, and quality of life. He emphasized that genuine inclusion requires more than inviting people to participate; it means adapting activities and environments so that participation becomes truly possible.

“The most important question is not only: How far can we run? How high can we climb?” he said. “The deeper question is: How do we build a society in which every person can move, participate, belong, and live with dignity?”

H.E. Dr. Bayrakdarian expanded this perspective by placing sport within the broader framework of public health, education, social interaction, belonging, citizenship, and quality of life. Calling for a shift from “sport for athletes” to “sport for all,” she stressed the importance of integrating physical activity into everyday life across schools, universities, neighborhoods, and municipalities.

She also highlighted the role of universities in research, program development, policy assessment, and multidisciplinary collaboration, pointing to the importance of sustained, knowledge-based partnerships between academic institutions and the Ministry. Addressing students and young people directly, she encouraged them to contribute to future youth and sports policies by voicing their needs and the barriers they face in accessing physical activity. She closed the seminar with a direct message to participants: “The Ministry is yours, always.”

Adapting Movement Across Different Needs

The scientific sessions translated these principles into three distinct areas of application: adaptive climbing, diabetes management, and healthy aging.

In “Adaptive Climbing: Reaching New Heights for All,” Ms. Nada Sattouf, Lecturer at UA’s FSS, explored climbing as a multidimensional activity involving physical, psychological, social, and perceptual-cognitive dimensions. She explained how adaptation can occur through three main components—the task, the environment, and the individual—allowing the activity to respond to different needs and abilities.

Turning to chronic disease, Dr. Norma Dahdah, Chairperson of UA’s Department of Motricity Education and Adapted Physical Activities, presented “APA and Diabetes: Exercise as an Essential Pillar for Health Benefits and Disease Management.” She examined the role of regular exercise in diabetes prevention and management, drawing on research into exercise-based approaches and underscoring the place of physical activity within preventive and therapeutic health strategies.

The final presentation, “APA and Healthy Ageing: Maintaining Mobility, Independence, and Quality of Life,” was delivered by Dr. Saydeh Debleh, Lecturer at UA’s Department of Nursing Sciences. She emphasized that healthy aging is not defined by age alone, but by the ability to maintain mobility, independence, and the capacity to continue living the life one values.

Drawing on the principle of “use it or lose it,” Dr. Debleh explained how adapted physical activity can fit movement to the individual and help “add years to life and life to the years.” She concluded by inviting participants to imagine themselves at 75 and consider what they are doing today to support the life they hope to live then.

From Knowledge to Healthier, More Inclusive Communities

By bringing together academic expertise, public policy, and practical applications, the seminar highlighted how knowledge can respond to real health and social needs. Its focus on prevention, inclusion, mobility, and quality of life reflected the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing approaches that are both evidence-based and grounded in people’s lived realities.

The event contributed to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Through initiatives of this kind, UA continues to connect teaching and research with societal needs, creating spaces where academic knowledge can inform practice and contribute to healthier, more equitable communities.