Three-day 19th Punjab State Special Olympics commenced at LPU

Jalandhar, October 8, 2016: Special Olympics for children with intellectual development disabilities is an event which is great source of inspiration and morale boosting, even for able-bodied persons, as how to live life with miraculous positivity and determination. Parents of such children are also laudable for their unflinching efforts in raising them in versatile abilities to face the society with smiling faces in all confidence. Keeping this spirit up, three-day 19th Punjab State Special Olympics commenced at Lovely Professional University. Near 500 athletes of 46 special schools from all over the state are participating in various events including Basketball, Football, Low abilities Walks & Races, Skating, Shot put, Table Tennis, Badminton and more.

The Olympic Torch was lighted on the LPU campus and a torch march was taken to the Cauldron at LPU playground by top athletes after covering a track of near 4 Kms. Near 200 LPU volunteers are helping these students during their stay and participations at the campus. LPU Chancellor Mr Ashok Mittal presided over the opening ceremony while Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala S Jaskiran Singh was the Guest of Honour of the day. LPU Pro Chancellor Mrs Rashmi Mittal was also present among the prominent guests. Motivating the participants, Chancellor Mr Ashok Mittal asked players to do well in the competitions. Addressing them Mr Mittal said: “You are source of inspiration for us. I feel that LPU students are blessed to work on this project.”

Some of the participating schools and organizations from across the state are: SAA Nagar Chapter Mohali, Panther Asha School Amritsar, Ek Nayee Umeed School Raikot, Darpan Gurdev Nagar, Bhagat Puran Singh School Amritsar, Vajra AWWA Asha School Jalandhar Cantt, Pathseekers, Ek Laksh School Sahnewal, Ek Pryaas Chandigarh, DAV Red Cross School Amritsar, District Special Olympics Patiala, Mother’s Care Special School Jalandhar, Pawan Sewa Samiti Barnala, Sanjeevni Jagraon, Umang Faridkot, Sarv Sikhia Abhiyaan Punjab Barnala, Sehyog, Udaan and many more.

Illustrative, state winners will further compete at national, Asia-Pacific and then world level. This is the first stage to prop up for the world competition. Near 7,000 contestants with intellectual development disabilities from across the world compete in various sports events at Special Olympics World Games. Last year, Indian players participated in the Summer Games held at Los Angeles, where India won 173 medals.