India will win 150 medals in Special Olympics World Summer Games 2023 at Berlin: Dr. Mallika Nadda

Special Olympics Bharat announce Torch Run and National Send-Off Ceremony for athletes in New Delhi on June 8

Dr. Mallika Nadda, Chairperson, Special Olympics Bharat, addressing the Media.

•  Union Minister Shri Anurag Thakur, Department of Youth Affairs and Sports and Department of Information and Broadcasting to be Chief Guest at Torch Run
•  Union Minister Ms Smriti Irani, Department of Women and Child Development and Department of Minority Affairs, the Chief Guest to be Chief Guests at Send-off Ceremony
•  Ms PT Usha, Mr Sonu Nigam and Mr Yuvraj Singh to also be present on the occasion

Rakesh Thapliyal 

New Delhi: Indian Athletes of Special Olympics Bharat are all set to win around 150 medals in the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2023 at Berlin, Germany. Berlin will welcome 7000 Athletes and Unified partners across 190 countries to participate in 26 sports from 17-25 June 2023. Indian contingent of 198 Athletes and Unified partners and 57 Coaches will participate in 16 Sports.

Addressing the media, Dr. Mallika Nadda, Chairperson, Special Olympics Bharat, said: Special Olympics Bharat is a National Sports Federation for athletes with intellectual disabilities. I have been associated with SO Bharat for over 30 years. To train and prepare athletes with intellectual challenges in sports is a challenging task, especially when they travel to compete for global events such as the upcoming Special Olympics World Games in Berlin. I am sure that this time Indian contingent will win 150 medals.SO Bharat is not limited to sports – we are also working towards inclusion through education, health and sports. With the Send-Off ceremony on June 8th, we wish to motivate special athletes. We also want to provide means of inclusion and a life of dignity to these athletes. In order to do so, we urge states to provide appropriate rewards to our medal-winning athletes after their return from Berlin, and to include them in state sports policies and also support them in providing them employment opportunities. Our motto is to recognise, respect, accept and include. I wish all athletes my best wishes for the upcoming Games.”

Dr. Nadda also urged the state Governments to honour the medal winners with cash and awards and give them employment, after they return from Berlin. ” Few State Government such as Haryana and Madhya Pradesh are giving them cash rewards, awards and jobs, we request to other States to come forward and reward them.”

Special Olympics Bharat on Monday announced that the National Send-Off ceremony for the SO Bharat contingent for the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2023 Berlin Germany will take place on June 8th, Thursday, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. 198 Athletes and Unified partners and 57 Coaches will participate in 16 Sports. The Special Olympics World Games are the world’s largest inclusive sporting event which will be a colourful celebration promoting recognition and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Berlin will welcome 7000 Athletes and Unified partners across 190 countries to participate in 26 sports.

The announcement was made at the Media Briefing hosted by Special Olympics Bharat at the Lalit Hotel in New Delhi. The ceremony on Thursday will consist of two parts – The Torch Run and the Send-Off Ceremony. The Torch Run will begin at 5 PM and will be conducted within the inner periphery of the stadium with Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Anurag Thakur, Department of Youth Affairs and Sports and Department of Information and Broadcasting as the Chief Guest.

After the Torch Run, the Send Off ceremony will begin with Hon’ble Union Minister Smt. Smriti Irani, Department of Women and Child Development and Department of Minority Affairs as the Chief Guest. Other distinguished guests present at the occasion will also include Ms. PT Usha, Mr. Sonu Nigam and Mr. Yuvraj Singh.

The entire Indian contingent will also be in attendance along with the valuable presence of the Delhi NCR Athletes, Coaches, families, volunteers and partners.

Please find Best of Luck Bharat Campaign A/V: https://we.tl/t-cvy8esiLYh

Special Olympics World Summer Games 2023 Berlin Germany
Special Olympics Bharat is organizing a Send-off ceremony for the Athletes and Coaches departing on 12 June for the Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Berlin Germany from 17-25 June 2023. 198 Athletes and Unified partners and 57 Coaches will participate in 16 Sports. The Special Olympics World Games are the world’s largest inclusive sporting event which will be a colorful celebration promoting recognition and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Berlin will welcome 7000 Athletes and Unified partners across 190 delegations to participate in 26 sports.

The Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 will be broadcast to hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide, showcasing athletic performance and highlighting stereotype-defying stories – changing minds and opening hearts through transformational inclusion.

The official mascot of the world games is called ‘Unity’, the mascot a name chosen by Special Olympics athletes from around the world and whose heart shape was inspired by the official logo of the World Games that symbolizes togetherness and affection. The World Games Berlin 2023 motto is “unbeatable together,” and that spirit infused is infused in the mascot.

About Special Olympics & 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.