Special sports event for differently-abled at Kolkata

 Differently-abled individuals, who would otherwise be denied participation in any of the mainstream games, will soon get a great opportunity to prove themselves.

Around 200 differently-abled athletes from different districts will compete in a three-day state-level sports event — organised by the Assam chapter of Special Olympics, Bharat — at Sarusajai Sports Complex from March 1-3. 

 

The event is being organised under the aegis of the Union ministry of youth affairs and sports. The winners will represent the state at the national-level.

Athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities will participate in different categories of sports that have been especially designed for them.

“We will organise the state-level sports event in March and around 200 differently-abled athletes with different forms of disabilities will participate in the games. The physically challenged and intellectually challenged will compete in different categories because their capabilities are different. The winners will compete at the national-level event to be held later this year. Those who win the nationals will go on to represent the country at the Special Olympics to be held later,” said Anjana Goswami, area director of the Assam chapter of Special Olympics, Bharat.

The organisers have been conducting coaching camps in different districts of the state to prepare differently-abled athletes for the upcoming sports event. Camps are being conducted in Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Tinsukia, Karimganj and Kamrup (metro) districts.

“We are holding coaching camps where specially-trained coaches are training the athletes in different sports. We take care and see in which sport the athlete may show interest. Accordingly, we train them based on their capabilities. We have been organising the event for several years now and are glad that several such athletes have given a wonderful performance, not allowing their disability to become a hindrance in any manner. In fact, a few of them have also managed to represent the country at the international level,” said Goswami.

“The aim of holding these sporting events is to put an end to the discrimination that such athletes face and give them an opportunity to showcase their talents. The athletes are trained in such a manner that they face no problems while picking up instructions from their coaches and giving their best performance,” said Goswami.

Source : The Telegraph , 7th feb 2013