Sports meet for differently abled begins
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 01 2011: The inaugural State Games for Persons with Disabilities organised by Special Olympics Bharat, Manipur Chapter in collaboration with various other NGOs and Sports Department (Govt of Manipur) commenced from today at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex.

The sports meet was inaugurated with the Governor Gurbachan Jagat and Sports Minister DD Thaiisi as the chief guest and president respectively.

Noting that the event is the first of its kind to be held in the State under the new scheme of Government of India's 'Sports and Games for Disabled' and after recognition of Special Olympics Bharat as the nodal agency for this category, Gurbachan Jagat expressed satisfaction that of all the games and sports conducted for various categories of differently abled, 'these games have the unique flavour of all categories of differently abled coming together to compete and fraternize among the participants' .

A March-past contingent at the inaugural ceremony of State Games for the Differently abled

Highlighting that the differently abled persons are part of the society and in their own way contributing to the society, the Governor noted that the event will provide a platform for the players to showcase their unique talent.

further informing that scope of Special Olympics Bharat has been widened and strengthened after its convergence with other sports federations, including All India Sports Council of the Deaf and Paralympics Committee of India, he said under a specific programme of the Central Government training of coaches along with conduct of district, state and national level games have been entrusted to Special Olympics Bharat.

In addition to announcing that Imphal West was one of the districts identified to conduct training programmes for coaches and organise district games in the first phase of the Centre's scheme in 2010, he stated that such an initiative provided the impetus to train four coaches from Manipur as Master Trainers at the Laxmibai University of Physical Education in Gwalior.

The Master Trainers subsequently provided training to 79 coaches in Manipur, Gurbachan said and called upon the State denizens to extent support to Special Olympics Bharat Manipur Chapter in the promotion of games and sports for the differently abled persons.

Games and sports not only play a crucial role in enhancing the mental and physical abilities of the special athletes but also provide therapeutic and rehabilitative benefits, said the Governor who exhorted the participants to strive for excellence as selection to represent Manipur in the national level competition would be based on performance in today's event.

About 300 athletes from eight different institutions are competing in various disciplines.

Earlier, sports Minister DD Thaiisi pledged his and the State Government's all possible assistance in the promotion of sports and games for the differently abled athletes.

He also assured that all efforts would be made to provide Government job to persons with disabilities.