Special Olympics presents International Cricket Carnival for people with Intellectual Disability in Delhi
‘Special Olympics is organizing International Cricket Carnival’ in Delhi, from 28th Oct- 1st Nov’09. Special Olympics is an unprecedented global movement which aims at providing quality sports training & competition, improves the lives of people with intellectual disabilities & in turn the lives of everyone they touch. The tournament kicked off with the welcome address of athletes and coaches. The Chief Guest for the ceremony was Raja Randhir Singh, Vice Chiarman Commonwealth Games Organizing committee & Secretary General Indian Olympic Association, He lighted the torch along with Dr. John Dow Jr. Managing Director, Special Olympics Asia Pacific.
To boost the morale & confidence of the participating teams, eminent sports personalities like Ajay Jadeja, Dhanraj Pillai, Nikhil Chopra, Atul Wasan, Madan Lal, Vijay Dhaiya and many more were seen on the field, playing with athletes with Intellectual Disability at Air Force Sports Complex, Palam,. Spirits of Athletes were lifted when many great players became a part of their teams to play the exhibition match. It was such a lively moment to see these children and adults play with great passion and enthusiasm.
This Event is being held in association with Delhi Government and Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, government of India to create awareness about Special Olympics and to generate public interest and participation. The Special Olympics is broadened and enriched to celebrate the moral and spiritual qualities of persons so as to enhance their dignity and self esteem. Bollywood actor Mr. Akshay Kumar, cricketer Wasim Akram, Kapil Dev,Ajay Jadeja and Rajya Vardhan Singh Rathore are the brand ambassadors of Special Olympics.
The event began with lighting of the torch of Special Olympics followed by an exhibition match between cricket team of Ajay Jadeja & Raja Randhir Singh. The match was of 10 over where Ajay Jadeja’s team was the winner. The members of the winning team were Vishal Uppal (Tennis), Vijay Dahia, Khajan Singh (Swimmer), Amit Shaha (Bangaladesh), Limsoon Hua (Malaysia). The other team of Raja Randhir Singh was Morad Ali Khan (Cricketer), Dr. John Dow, Sandeep Gulliya (Delhi),Wiman Asanga (Srilanka) etc.
Speaking on the occasion Raja Randhir Singh says, “It is such an honor to be present on this noble event. Seeing these children displaying courage on the field fills my heart with great pride. Special Olympics is doing a lot to create a community who will respect Intellectually Disabled and treat them as equals. I wish them all luck for this noble cause.”
Dr. John Dow says, "On behalf of our Chairman Dr. Timothy Shriver and the entire Asia Pacific region, I invite you to join us for an event that will excite and encourage you. Today we celebrate two legendary and great entities both having roots in helping to develop nations throughout the world, Special Olympics and Cricket. What a magnificent alliance!
Over the course of the next week, we will celebrate inspiration, courage, justice and unification. Athletes will compete against celebrities in the Special Olympics International Cricket Cup, a match unlike any other. Athletes with intellectual disabilities will show all of us all their cricket skills, sportsmanship, competitive edge and most of all their courage. I challenge each of you to look at these athletes with honor and pride; they too are athletes in their own right.”
Ajay Jadeja says, “I am associated with this event because it is for the very noble cause. Helping children and adults suffering from intellectual disability to transform their lives by developing their skills through sports. Most of the parents of these children hide them and feel apprehensive in introducing them to friends and family due to fear of embarrassment or discomfort. But with Special Olympics we want to help these children to carve their identity and regain their self esteem to lead a normal happy life.”
Air Marshal Denzil Keelor (Retd.), Chairman Special Olympics Bharat says, “Special Olympics is a platform for people with intellectual disability to exhibit their sporting skills, spirits and courage. We want athletes to come out and display their hidden potential and become friendly with the outside world. With Special Olympics we want people to respect them and treat them with more love & affection.”
About Special Olympics:
Special Olympics began in 1968 with the First International Special Olympics Games at Soldier Field in Chicago. Since then, millions have benefited from the movement. It is a leader in the field of intellectual disability and the world’s largest movement dedicated to promoting respect, acceptance, inclusion, and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities. With programming in the areas of health, youth and education, family support, research and policy change, Special Olympics has more than 3.1 million athletes, 227 Special Olympics Programs in 175 countries, 7 regional offices around the world, including Ireland, Egypt, South Africa, India, China, Panama, and United States.
About Special Olympics Bharat
Special Olympics Bharat is the national accredited programme of Special Olympics International, meeting its high accreditation standards. Special Olympics Bharat is the National Sports Federation, recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of India, as the Sports Federation for the Intellectually Disabled.
In India, the Programme has so far drawn over 35866 coaches to work with over 610,885 athletes across 32 State Programs. India being designated a Priority Nation by Special Olympics International, the goal is to extend the Special Olympics Programme throughout the country and reach over 1,000,000 people with Intellectual Disability by end 2012.
Mission
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year round sports training & athletic competition in a variety of Olympic – type sports for children and adults with intellectual disability, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage , experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes & the community
