NEW DELHI: A strong 255-member contingent from India will be represented at the Special Olympics World Summer Games, which will take place in Berlin, Germany, from June 17 to 25. The group consists of 57 coaches, united partners, and 198 athletes who will compete in 16 sports. The largest inclusive sporting competition for people with intellectual disability is the Special Olympics World Games.
A total of 7,000 athletes and unified partners across 190 countries will compete in 26 disciplines in Berlin. The Indian athletes will attend a training camp at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium from June 7 to June 11 before they depart for Berlin on June 12.
A special send-off ceremony for the delegation will also be held by Special Olympics Bharat on Thursday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani, Indian Olympic Association President P.T. Usha, cricketer Yuvraj Singh, and singer Sonu Nigam will all be in attendance.
Mallika Nadda, a prominent social activist and the chairman of Special Olympics Bharat, anticipates that India will return from Berlin with a sizable collection of medals. "The competitive portion follows after the participation portion. The Special Olympics World Summer Games are expected to provide around 150 medals for our competitors, said Nadda, who is also the spouse of BJP president J.P. Nadda. In order to help the special athletes integrate into society, Nadda also urged the public to support them.
"They want dignity of life and sports help them get that, for which I urge everyone to help them in their endeavor. I also request state governments to identify their hard work and efforts by honoring them with cash awards and jobs for their achievements," she said. She applauded the sports ministry's efforts to recognise exceptional athletes with monetary prizes of Rs. 5 lakh, Rs. 3 lakh, and Rs. 2 lakh for winning gold, silver, and bronze medals in international competitions, respectively.
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