7th Global Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day at Mangala Stadium
7th Global Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day and State Level Championships 2016 organized by Special Olympics Bharat- Karnataka on 17th September at Mangala stadium, Mangaluru from 10am onwards. Prior to the sports, there will be a Torch Run, starting from Mangaluru City Corporation Office Entrance at 9:00 am
Mangaluru: Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at Mangalore Press Club, Vasanth Kumar shetty- Area Director of Special Olympics Bharat-Karnataka said, ” Special Olympics provides year round Sports Training and Athletic Competition in a variety of Olympic –type Sports for children and adults with Mental Retardation, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Multiple Disabilities by giving them opportunities to develop their physical fitness, demonstrate sportive courage, experience joy and participate in sharing of gifts and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics Athletes and community. Special Olympics believes that consistent training is essential for the development among those of equal abilities is the most appropriate means of testing these skills, measuring progress and providing incentives for personal growth “.
“Special Olympics is organizing State Level Sports all over Karnataka in various category for Selection into the National Coaching Camps for the World Games to be held in 2019 in Australia. The Special Athletes have also shown their Sports Talents in the National level Competitions. Basketball and Volley Ball State selection Championships were held in MAHE University, Manipal in the month of July 2016. Our Basketball women’s team of Special Athletes from Karnataka won Silver Medal in Chennai National Level competition. Shuttle Badminton and Bocce State selection Championships were held in Bangalore in July 2016. Bocce Men’s team of Special Athletes from Karnataka got silver Medal in August in Patna. National State Competitions Shuttle Badminton which was held in Thiruvanantapuram, Kerala of which Our Special Athletes from Karnataka bagged 3 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze .( Krishna 2 Gold’s, Anand 1 Gold, Yashmitha / Shristhi 2 Silver, Yashmitha 1 Bronze) Softball and Hand Ball for Men and Women respectively State selection Championships were held in Mandya in August.” added Shetty.
Shetty further said, ” National Championships Softball for Men will be held in Odisha from 24th to 29th Sept 2016 for which our team of 14 Special Athletes and Coaches are participating. In association with SOB-K, Tamanna Special School & JSW Foundation jointly organized State level Aquatics and Football Selection Championships in Bellary on 23rd and 24th Aug 2016 at JSW Campus. 4 Men and 4 Women along with Escorts will take part in the National Aquatics competition to be held at Andheri, Mumbai from 18th to 24th Sept 2016. During the month of September, 7th Global Eunice Kennedy Shriver (EKS) Day is celebrated all over the World. Special Olympics Bharat- Karnataka is celebrating EKS Day on 17th Sept. at Mangala Stadium, Mangaluru from 10 am onwards.”
“Torch Run will commence from MCC Entrance at 9:00 am- Harinath Honorable Mayor will light the Torch, and Dr. K G Jagadeesha, I. A .S. Deputy Commissioner will Flag off the Run. Later we will organize State Level Sports meet at the Mangala Stadium. This will be the Selection for National Sports meet which will be held at Jaipur in the month of October. Mr. Promod Madhwaraj. Honorable Sports Minister, Govt of Karnataka will inaugurate, along with many guests of honor. SOB-K will select 24 Athletes (14+ 10) for the Nationals. The National committee will select will select the athletes who will take part in the World summer Games 2019. The competition is held in two different groups, Lower and Higher ability. I kindly request the State Government, Public Sectors and the Public to join hands to bring the Differently Abled to the main stream of our society” added Vasanth Kumar Shetty.
Sr Maria Shruthi- Headmistress of St Agnes Special School, Bendore-Mangaluru, Jagadish Shetty- Treasurer-SOB-K, and Meera Sathish- Principal, Lions Special school-Surathkal were also present on the dais during the press meet.