Vice President of India Shri. Jagdeep Dhankar declares open First Ever Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce & Bowling Competition

Rakesh Thapliyal

New Delhi: The Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce & Bowling Competition officially began with a grand Opening Ceremony here at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex. The event was officially declared open by Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri. Jagdeep Dhankar who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest along with Dr. Mansukh L. Mandavya, Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour and Employment, Government of India who was the Guest of Honour. The matches are scheduled to commence tomorrow with Bocce being held at Thyagaraj Sports Complex and Bowling hosted at Zoreko RCUBE Monad in Rajouri Garden.

The 12 participating countries entered the arena with a traditional march past where all teams were welcomed with sheer joy by the audience. It was followed by the hoisting of the Official Flag of Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce and Bowling Competition. The Flame of Hope was lit by athletes of the Indian contingent Nirupam Dey and Shraddha Patel which will remain burning throughout the event.

Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, Hon’ble Vice President of India, who declared the event open and expressed his admiration for the athletes and everyone supporting the event said, “This momentous occasion redefines what is achievable by us as a country. Our special athletes are living examples of human potential, demonstrating that with determination and perseverance, nothing is beyond reach. You inspire us all with your courage and commitment. Today, India stands proud to host marquee global events like the Asia Pacific Bocce and Bowling Competition. Building on this foundation, we have boldly taken steps to bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics, aiming to place India at the centre stage of global sports. We are confident in our vision and hopeful that this will set a new benchmark for generations to come.”

He concluded by delivering a simple message, “किताब भी जरूरी, खेल भी जरूरी, दोनों के बिना जिंदगी अधूरी (Khitab bhi zaroori hain, khel bhi zaroori hain, dono ke bina zindagi adoori hain)”

Guest of Honour, Dr. Mansukh L. Mandaviya, Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports & Minister of Labour and Employment, Government of India, also addressed the audience, saying, “It is an inspiring day for us all and it is a privilege to join you in celebrating the passion, talent and determination of the remarkable athletes present here. I am pleased to announce that the Government under the leadership of Shri. Narendra Modi is fully committed to support Special Olympics Bharat and ensuring that our nation provides an inclusive sports environment for athletes of all abilities. I am proud to say that the Government have strengthened the partnership with Special Olympics Bharat to provide enhanced resources, improved facilities and comprehensive training programs to improve the Special Olympic movement. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Mallika Nadda for her outstanding leadership and dedication for advancing the mission of Special Olympics Bharat across the Asia Pacific region.”

Delivering the opening address, Dr. Mallika Nadda, President, Special Olympics Bharat said, “We welcome everyone to the incredible land of India where every moment is an experience of our warmth and hospitality. It is our honour to proudly host the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce and Bowling Competition. It is a moment of celebration, unity and inspiration with athletes from 12 countries who are representing not only their teams but also the spirit of inclusion, the spirit of courage and the resilience that Special Olympics embodies.”

Special Guests included Shri Naveen Jindal, Hon’ble Member of Parliament; and Shri Asim Arun, Hon’ble Minister of State I/C for Social Welfare and SC/ST Welfare, Government of Uttar Pradesh, along with Dr. D.G. Chaudhary, General Secretary of Special Olympics Bharat; Dr. Mallika Nadda, President of SO Bharat and Chairperson of the SOAP Advisory Council, Mr. Dipak Natali, Regional President and Managing Director, Special Olympics Asia Pacific and Ms. Shivani, Athlete Ambassador for Special Olympics Bharat. Each dignitary’s presence highlighted the importance of advancing the mission of Special Olympics and supporting athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

The audience was captivated by a variety of cultural performances representing India’s rich heritage, welcoming the athletes and guests. The march-past was a special highlight, with the teams from each participating nation greeted with enthusiastic applause and standing ovations, underscoring the unifying message of the event.

This historic competition, the first of its kind in India, shines a spotlight on athletes aged 22 and above with IDD, fostering empowerment through sports. With the successful launch of this event, New Delhi proudly stands at the forefront of a movement to promote inclusion and inspire change through the transformative power of sports.