A 23-member strong squad from Goa will be part of the Indian contingent that is scheduled to participate in next month’s Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023. More than 7,000 athletes representing 190 delegations are expected to participate in the Special Olympics World Games 2023 to be held in Berlin, Germany, from June 17-25.
Special Olympics Bharat Goa, that is associated with Special Olympics Bharat – the National Sports Federation for Development of Sports for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities – has already selected 23 sportspersons and coaches, to be part of Team India.
Of these 23 members, 13 will be athletes, while the others will be seven coaches, two partners and one assistant staff from Special Olympics Goa. The Indian contingent will consist of 280 athletes, 54 coaches, 20 assistant staff hailing from 22 States in India.
The Goan team is scheduled to leave from the state on June 7 and make a brief four-day training halt in New Delhi before departing for Berlin on June 12.
The 13 sportspersons 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.
“Our athletes have been undergoing serious training during the build-up to the World Games since the past few weeks. We expect a good show from our Goan boys and girls,” noted Victor R. Vaz, National Sports Director of Special Olympics Bharat.
The 13 athletes met earlier this week for a training session at the Don Bosco ground in Panaji before splitting into two groups, one in Margao and the other in Panaji , to continue with their preparations. “We can easily hope to see at least two or three of our athletes winning and bringing laurels to India and Goa,” Vaz stated.
