31 August, 2021 New Delhi: Special Olympics Bharat Athletes, Coaches, families volunteers and Program officials converged to uphold the spirit of Sports at a virtual event organized by the Delhi Chapter. The Chief Guest, Mr Sajan Prakash, the Indian Swimmer who participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics shared his journey and learnings with the Special Athletes.
Expressing the importance of building a Sports Culture in India, Mr Sajan Prakash said, “Despite injuries before both the Olympics I decided to carry on. I did not let my determination get dampened by them. Sports is a learning experience and teaches us values that would fuel our growth in any field we henceforth pursue.”
The session was graced by many distinguished guests including Mr Satish Pillai, Board Member of the Special Olympics International, Dr (Mrs) Mallika Nadda the Chairperson of SO Bharat, Dr DG Chaudhari, General Secretary, SO Bharat.
The one-and-a-half-hour event unfolded the importance of sports from multiple perspectives which were spotlighted at a Panel Discussion that invited the opinions of accomplished persons from the field of education, sports and media. Ms Aarushi Sharma, the Special Olympics (Delhi) Silver Medalist in Basketball from the Special Olympics World Summer Games held in 2019 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and her mother, Ms Poonam Sharma, an Aanganwadi teacher, shared personal journeys of challenges, rejection, perseverance, and victory that underpinned sports as a catalyst in bringing about development and Inclusion.
“Admittedly the challenges in bringing up a special child are many”, said Ms Poonam Sharma “To date I remember the rejections from the schools who refused to admit my daughter. My daughter won a silver medal in Basketball at the Abu Dhabi Games 2019. Today people know me as her mother. Aarushi has made me a special parent. My message to all other parents of children with Intellectual Disability is that we need to encourage them and enable them to achieve their best, and they will.”
While wishing everyone on the National Sports Day, Mr Satish Pillai, Dhyan Chand Awardee, a former Chairman of SO Bharat and presently a member of the Special Olympics International Board said, “Every day should be a Sports day. It is important for everyone to participate in sports, to be fit and healthy. Technology has made our lives sedentary while a human body is best when physically active. Sports prepares us to face challenges and to respect each-other’s strengths. It should be made a part of the school curriculum. Sports should be a way of life.”
Dr Mallika Nadda brought the session to its conclusion by sharing her vision of percolating the grassroot with Special Olympics sports, through upgraded sports infrastructure at the local State and National levels with a proactive participation of the youth.
