Regional abilympics inaugurated

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, OCT. 11. The Southern regional selection round for the National Abilympics to be held in India next year, was inaugurated in the city today.

With a traditional march past and the lighting of the flame by the winners of the last International Abilympics held in Prague, the Regional Abilympics (South Zone) got off to a colourful start. Over 575 participants had registered for the events, exceeding the expectations of the organisers, the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI) and Vidya Sagar.

Inaugurating the programme, Dr. Uma Thuli, Chief Commissioner for Disabilities urged all the groups to come together and work to make the event a success.

She hoped that with time, Abilympics would become a routine event. Ms. Aruna Dalmiya, of the NAAI said the regional abilympics in Chennai was the first of the four regional rounds to be held before the National Abilympics next year. Other rounds will be held soon in Kolkata, Delhi and Ahmedabad.

The winners at the National Abilympics will move forward to the International Abilympics to be hosted by India in New Delhi in 2003.

Ms. Sheila Balakrishnan, secretary, Social Welfare said there was substantial budgetary support for the disability movement. She complimented the NGOs in the sector for evolving innovative projects for the disabled.

Around 33 competitions covering vocational skills and leisure and living skills for the differently-abled will be organised during the Regional Abilympics on October 12, 13 and 14. The events will be held over three sessions: 8-30 a.m. to 11-30 a.m., 12-30 p.m. to 3-30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on three days.

Mr. M. M. Jha, from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ms. Poonam Natarajan, regional vice-president and NAAI and chairperson, Vidya Sagar also spoke.

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Section  : Southern States
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