We are all like snowflakes or broken mirrors inside a kaleidoscope. We are unique. We are beautiful the way we are, just the way we are. Would a kaleidoscope be as much fun if all the patterns were the same? I don’t think so. And this is true for people as well. The beauty fundamentally lies in the fact that we are all extraordinarily distinct as unique individuals.
Throughout history, societies have been, and still continue to be, divided into hierarchies or strata. Some are based on racial differences, others in gender and some in caste. However differently abled people face the burden of ridicule, stigma and discrimination irrespective of which strata of society they belong to. Although a considerable number of people in this world are disabled, not much heed is paid to their needs or demands.
Dr Kessler aptly wrote, “The term normal is not a statistical concept, but a personal judgment in which we use ourselves as the standard, and the subject of our attention as the deviation from that standard.” The standard on which differently abled people are judged and discriminated against is usually ableism. And ableism is often determined by physical fitness. Differently abled people have been looked upon as dependent, unfit, invalids and whatnot.
Special Olympics International is a worldwide non-profit organisation for benefiting the intellectually disabled through the medium of sports. Special Olympics competitions are held every day, all around the world—including local, national and regional competitions, adding up to more than 100,000 events a year. Special Olympics Bharat is an officially recognised programme of Special Olympics International which operates in India. It is recognized by the government of India as a National Sports Federation for the development of sports opportunity for the people with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics Bharat is bringing the second edition of its annual sports rendezvous Prathistha 2018, on 1st July 2018. It is a community outreach programme aimed at promoting a sense of inclusion in the youth. Participants will get a chance to play a wide variety of sports with athletes who have represented, or are training to represent, our country in the Special Olympics World Games. There will be a variety of sports from cricket, tug of war, to relay races.
The event is going to be held on Sunday, 1st July 2018, at Smriti Van, Mayur Vihar Phase III. The event will begin at 4 pm and there are no registration fees. The only thing they ask of you, is three hours of your time.
Here’s some further information about Pratishtha 2018, courtesy SO Bharat Youth Leaders:
Pratishtha is a community outreach event which targets spreading awareness about Special Olympics, intellectual disability, and make an inclusive society.
The core aim is to promote and practice inclusion. The volunteers who organize, plan and implement the event are Youth leaders with and without intellectual disabilities from different school and colleges. Tanmay Aggarwal was the pioneer Youth Leader who initiated this event which was first conducted at Vijay Mandal Park, Malviya Nagar on 30th July 2017 which had about 70 volunteers from different schools.
This year’s plan:
DATE: 1st July 2018
VENUE: Smriti Van, Play Area
TIMINGS: 4pm – 7pm
Sports Events:
- Cricket
- Powerlifting
- Athletics
- Tug of War
Highlights-
- Students of Tagore International School will be performing a nukkad natak on inclusion.
- Photo booth- People will get a chance to click photos with the athletes who won medals for India at World Games.
Resources that SO Bharat will arrange:
- Athletes with special needs
- Trained Coaches
- Sports equipments
- Banners
- Refreshments
- Stalls
So what are you waiting for? Grab your family and friends and be at Smriti Van at 4 pm on 1st July!
ABSORBED IN LIFE 