Indian Contingent: Special Olympic Summer Games 2015

Bharat (India) Special Olympics Facts & Figures 

World Games 2015 Delegation

Head of Delegation: Mr Satish Pillai

Estimated Total Involvement: Atheletes - 241; Coaches/Staff -92

Sports: Aquatics(08); Atheletics(40); Badminton(04); Basketball(20); Bocce(02); Cycling(24); Football(7 a side)-11;16; Golf(07); Handball(24); Powerlifting(18); Roller Skating(24); Softball(15); Table Tennis(04); Volleyball(24).

History: Founded in 1987 as Special Olympics India and later changed to Special Olympics Bharat in 2001.

Mission Statement: To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with an intellectual disability, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community.

"Founded in 1968, the Special Olympic movement comes with a great impact that changes lives of those who are disabled and consider their life as a curse. Using sports as the medium, Special Olympics is fighting inactivity, injustice and intolerance."

After having a success in Pyeong Chang, South Korea in 2013 and in Athens, Greece in 2011, Special Olympics has returned to the United States after 16 years. Los Angeles will be hosting the event for the third time. India won 20 medals at Special Olympics 2013 where several athletes like Anishka Upadhyay, Raj Kumar Tiwari, Bipasha Mukherji, and Bharat Bhatia won Gold in Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating, Speed Skating and Snowshoeing respectively.


More Related News:
Twelve inmates of Asha Kiran home for mentally challenged have been selected for the 1st World Summer Games to be held at Los Angeles, USA, 2015. The feat comes 15 years after an inmate had participated in an international sports championship in 1999.

“It is a great moment of honour for Asha Kiran Home for Mentally Challenged. Inmates will be participating in an international event after 15 years. One person had participated in INAS-FID World Athletics Championships which was held in Spain in 1999,” Principal Secretary (Social Welfare & WCD), Satbir Bedi said.

Read More at: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/12-mentally-challenged-inmates-selected-for-summer-olympics-2015/#sthash.y79Tmd9Y.dpuf

Rural Development Trust (RDT) through its Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) schools began the Special Olympics program in 2010 with the support offered by Special Olympics Bharat, in order to empower their special athletes and integrate them into society.

13 athletes, 7 girls and 6 boys will represent India as part of a 200 strong Indian contingent at the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 among 7000 participants representing over 170 participating countries. The RDT’s athletes of the Indian contingent comprise of N Lakshmi, Vani, Chandrashekhar and Ramachandra in Volleyball, Asifa and Uma Maheshwari for Basketball, shuttlers Balakrishna and Kullaima, Powerlifters Erryswamy and Naresh participating, Aswini playing Handball, Sreelatha for Table Tennis and Footballer Sanjeeva Reddy.

Read More at: http://www.sportskeeda.com/general-sports/13-rural-indian-athletes-aim-national-glory-special-olympics-world-games-la-2015