Special Olympics Bharat Champions have a desire to bring glory to the nation with hope and determination to win: Mallika Nadda

Special Olympics Bharat athletes send-off ceremony in Maharashtra.

Khel Today Bureau 

 Mumbai: The Send-off ceremony for the Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Berlin, Germany in June 2023 was held at the Conference Hall, Raj Bhavan, Mumbai, graced by His Excellency, Shri Ramesh Bais, the Governor of Maharashtra. He extended his best wishes to 13 Athletes, 1 Unified partner and 5 Coaches who will be participating in the games from Maharashtra.

The ceremony was attended by approx. 50 including several distinguished guests including Mr. Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Hon. Minister of Tourism, Skill development & entrepreneurship, Government of Maharashtra, Dr. Mrs Mallika Nadda, Chairperson, Special Olympics Bharat to name a few.  

 Governor of Maharashtra, His Excellency Mr. Ramesh Bais said, “ I wish my best to all the athletes travelling from India to the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin and pray for their imminent success at the prestigious event. I am confident that our athletes will earn numerous plaudits for India across Basketball, Football, Handball, Swimming, Tennis, Table-Tennis and Roller-Skating and will make the nation proud.” Special Olympics is more than just sports for these athletes. Special Olympics are means of providing health, education, and leadership skills to these special individuals. I wish to request Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha to allot 2 percent of total vacancies for persons with disabilities.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr Mallika Nadda, Chairperson, SO Bharat said, “Special Olympics is separate from Paralympics. I would like all of us to be mindful of the difference. Today we can all see that the Athletes of SO Bharat have a desire to bring glory to the nation. They are Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities but have hope and determination to win. We have assembled here to recognise and honour them. As we do so let us join hands in opening opportunities of employment for them, enabling them to contribute meaningfully in the society that they are so much a part of. I trust that you all join me in extending best wishes to the Special Olympics Bharat Champions.“

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. 

About the State of Maharashtra 

The State Chapter of Maharashtra implements all the sports and initiatives of Special Olympics with the support of several supporters and partners who we are grateful to. The program currently has approx. 75000 Athletes registered, and spreads across 36 Districts of the state. The Maharashtra Chapter conducts18 sports for Persons with, as well as, without Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities engaging them in several expanded inclusive engagements as well 

List of Athletes and Coaches participating from the State at the Special Olympics World Summer games Berlin Germany