Children with special needs gear up for their own Olympiad

Asmita Aggarwal

WASHINGTON-BASED Thomas B Songster, a Ph.D in sports for the disabled and now Vice President Special Olympics who has been working closely with John F. Kennedy's sister Eunice for the past 30 years, is just the right choice to launch the national games in the country. Selecting 88 athletes and 20 coaches for the Special Olympics scheduled to be held on June 19-29, 2003, in Dublin, from the 21,000 enthusiasts will be tough though. "The idea is to make these special children who are mentally retarded a part of society and to give them a normal upbringing. We're also flagging off a Flame of Hope on September 7 from Raj Ghat which will be the longest torch run," says Songster. The Flame of Hope will over a stretch of 25,000 kms in 18 cities and will conclude on October 22, in time for the Athletics Meet in Delhi.

The National Games, Special Olympics Bharat, will be kick started in Pondicherry and end in Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. "There are 11 Olympic sports like cycling, aquatics, basketball, football, bowling and tennis. And India has a good chance because they lifted a bronze last time in Alaska for floor hockey loosing out to USA," says Songster. Children with special needs from Laxman Public School were also present along with CEO Special Olympics Brig. Arvind Popli, Bharat and Chairman Air Marshal (Retd) Denzil Keelor. "These mentally challenged children will compete with children from 230 countries," says Keelor.

Songster, who's been teaching these special children for 25 years as Professor at Indiana University, says, "Our aim is to extend this program to every special child in India."

Source: Hindustan Times
Dated :6th September, 2002