Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities in collaboration with Special Olympics Bharat and Sanjay Centre for Special Education hosted a send-off for the Goan contingent participating at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Berlin from June 17-25.
Present for the ceremony were Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant, Subhash Phaldessai, Minister for Social Welfare, Sports Minister Govind Gaude, Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities along with Victor Vaz, National Sports Director, Special Olympics Bharat and Taha Haaziq, Secretary Office of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
Dr. Pramod Sawant congratulated the participating athletes, coaches and unified partners from Goa who will represent India. Besides, he appreciated the efforts of the Department of Social Welfare and the State Commission for Persons with Disabilities in Goa for their dedicated work. He added that the government will provide all help to children with special needs to excel in academics and sports.
Thirteen athletes from Goa will be part of the Indian team participating in unified Football (male and female), Futsal (male), Athletics (male and female), Roller Skating (Female), Basketball (male and female), Judo (male and female), Powerlifting (female), unified Volleyball (male and female) and Handball.
Minister of Social Welfare, Subhash Phaldessai said: “There’s nothing that Goans cannot achieve. For these athletes to be part of the national team after selections clearly indicates that Goans are skilled and talented. I’m sure you will all do well and bring glory to India and Goa, ” he said. He also mentioned that this year’s Purple Fest will be taken a notch higher making it an international event for which planning has already begun, stated a press release.
