New Delhi, 29th May 2023: Special Olympics Bharat athletes received a major boost on Saturday with Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Mr Vinai Kumar Saxena pledging to drive sincere efforts in setting up a dedicated stadium for the training purposes of the Special Olympics Bharat athletes in the nation’s capital.
Mr. Saxena’s motivating remarks came as Delhi held a Send-off ceremony at the Delhi Golf Club on Saturday for their Athletes and Coaches representing the State at the Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Berlin, Germany in June 2023.
Apart from the esteemed presence of the Lieutenant Governor of New Delhi, the event was also graced by several other distinguished guests including the Minister Of State, Home affairs, Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr. Nisith Pramanik, Minister Of State, Social Justice & Empowerment, Ms. Pratima Bhaumik Mr Manoj Tiwari, Member of Parliament & Mr Kishan Bajoria, President, Delhi Golf Club.
Addressing the gathering, LG VK Saxena said, “Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Delays are as much a part of the society as any other citizen. Our efforts should be in the direction of full Inclusion and empowerment of all our fellow citizens with special abilities.”
“While the Delhi Govt. will continue to acknowledge the Medallists, we will soon plan schemes for their employment as well. We will endeavour to create space in all the DDA sports complexes in Delhi, congenial to the requirements of the Athletes with IDD. We will drive sincere efforts in setting up a stadium dedicated to them, for regular sports. This may take time, but making a provision for accommodating this segment of the population in the 46 sports complexes around Delhi would be done sooner,” he added.
At the event, the flame of hope was ignited and handed over by the previous world games participants of the state to the Berlin participants. The Torch symbolizes courage and celebration of diversity, uniting communities around the globe. The torch will journey across a few states and return on 8 June to Delhi, at the National Send-off being held in the city.
The event initiated the Best of Luck (BOL) Campaign encouraging people to cheer the Special Olympics Champions through 30 days clearly marking three elements, namely, the Flame of Hope, the Send-off and the Welcome Ceremony that would be held in the end of June.
SO World Summer Games 2023, Berlin Germany
From 17 – 25 June 2023, Berlin, Germany will welcome 7,000 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners from approximately 190 countries to compete in 26 sports. The athletes will be supported by more than 3,000 coaches and 20,000 volunteers. 198 Athletes and partners and 57 Coaches are gearing up from India to participate in 16 Sports
The Special Olympics World Games offer the opportunity to unite the world like no other event can. Here people with and without disabilities, people of different nations, cultures, political views, and religions meet and can overcome existing prejudices through the power of sport.
About Special Olympics Bharat
Special Olympics Bharat is a National Sports Federation accredited by Special Olympics Inc. USA, to conduct sports and development programs all over India. Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education, and leadership programs every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Bharat is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India as a National Sports Federation for the development of Sports for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities. It is incumbent to inform that Special Olympics and Paralympics are separate entities wherein the former reaches out to Persons with Intellectual Disabilities and, the latter to those with physical challenges. SO Bharat has over 1.5 million Athletes registered across all the States and Union Territories of India.
The SO Bharat Delhi Chapter has approx. 5000 Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities registered from over 180 schools. 21 Athletes (including one Unified partner) and 2 Coaches would represent the state in 11 sports at the Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Berlin, Germany.
List of Sports the Delhi Participants are playing in Berlin:
- JUDO
- BASKETBALL
- ROLLER SKATING
- VOLLEYBALL
- POWERLIFTING
- CYCLING
- HANDBALL
- FOOTBALL
- TABLE TENNIS
- TENNIS
- ATHLETICS
