First state games for disabled kicks off
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 01 2011:
The First State Games for Persons with Disabilities kicked off at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex today.
Governor Gurbachan Jagat graced the opening ceremony of the game as chief guest which was presided by YAS minister DD Thaisii.
The Game was organized by the Special Olympic Bharat, Manipur Chapter under the new scheme of the Centre "Sports & Games for Disabled" for which Special Olympic Bharat is the nodal agency.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Gurbachan Jagat said that the differently abled are part of the society and in their own ways, they are contributing to the society, like different flowers in bouquet.
"Games and Sports provides a platform for moulding the personality of a person, besides providing a good opportunity for healthy competition, creating bonhomie, team spirit, sportsmanship, fellow feeling and oneness among the participants," he said.
Expressing his hope that the Games will inculcate and fulfill all these objectives, Gurbachan said that he was happy on learning that Imphal West district was one of the districts selected for conducting training of coaches and organizing district games in the first phase of the scheme, Games & Sports of the Disabled, in 2010 .
He also called for support to the Special Olympic Bharat Chapter stressing that the Chapter needs support from all citizens of the state as games not only play a crucial role in enhancing the mental and physical abilities of the special athletes but also provide therapeutic and rehabilitative benefits.
"I am confident that the special athletes selected from these Games will compete successfully in the National to be held in October, 2011 and bring laurels to the state," the Governor said while wishing the organizers a grand success.