Special Olympic-2011 medal winners honoured by Trichy District Collector Ms.Jayashree Muralidharan and the Members of Trichy special Olympic Chapter.

 District Collector Ms.Jayashree Muralidharan honours the SO Athletes

‘”Dignity, acceptance, and a chance to reach one’s potential – these are human rights worth promoting for everyone. For more than four decades, Special Olympics has been bringing one message to the world: people with intellectual disabilities can and will succeed if given the opportunity” said Dr.K.Govindaraju, Chairman, Trichy Special Olympic chapter of SOB-TN  while congratulating the seven medal winners from Trichy in Special Olympic held at Athens in Greece from June 24-4^th July 2011. Dr.K.Govindaraju appreciated Trichy intellectually challenged Athlete Chandrabose who bagged two Gold medals in Roller Skating in Special Olypic-2011 at Athens and further said that Special Olympics Bharat is the one of the largest Delegations with 245 members Squad including 183 Athletes and won 78 Gold, 73 Silver and 92 bronze. All Tamilnadu 9 athletes brought laurels to India as well as our states by bagging Total no of 12 medals 3 golds, 2 silver and 7 Bronz.Chandra Bose won 2 gold and 1 silver in roller skating,  Archana won 1 gold and 1 Bronz in cycling, Hari Srinivasan won 1 Silver in Team Hand Ball Men, Gokila won 1 bronze in 4*400 mtrs Relay, Karthikeyan won 1 Bronze in Men Volley Ball,Sindhu and Priya  won Bronz medals in Team Hand ball Women, Praveena & Shanthi won Bronze medals in Volley ball women. Trichy Chapter of Special Olympic also appreciated the special efforts of the coaches Mr.J.Paul Devasagayam and Mrs. Julia Vasanthi. Dr.K.Govindaraju added “The focus Special Olympics places on using sport opportunities to make changes in society around the world earned it a high honour. “Sport teaches us to recognize our similarities over our differences while celebrating the effort to do one’s best in a spirit of respect. And while Special Olympics has had a positive impact on many persons with an intellectually disability, there are many more people that are still hidden.  Special Olympics empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities in more than 180 countries. Special Olympics often is the only place where they have an opportunity to participate in their communities and develop belief in themselves. Many live lives of neglect and isolation, hidden away or socially excluded from full participation in schools or society”.

Dr.K.Govindaraju added “Transforming the athlete, Special Olympics sports are a gateway to empowerment, competence, acceptance and joy. When people see Special Olympics Athletes in action, they see their humanity, their joy in competition, their pride and their potential, and they begin to believe in a different kind of world – a world in which everyone is respected and included. It is important to work more closely with the international sports community to broaden the reach and bring the joy and goodwill of sport to many more people.” The Trichy SOB-TN chairman said that Mr.J.Paul Devasagayam played a vital role for organizing the entire trip for the Tamilnadu Athletes”. The successful seven Athletes were honoured by Trichy District Collector Mrs.Jayashree Muralidhararn with Ponnadais. Mrs.Jayshree Muralidharan, District Collector said “Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers are often the first support system for people with intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympics winners have not only their families/institutions support but the support of the entire District that the real power to improve lives of Special Olympic winners from Trichy. District differently abled welfare officer Mrs.Syamala, District Sports officer Dr.Kalaiselvan, District Youth Coordinator of Nehru Yuvakendra, Mr.K.Subramaniam, IED Coordinator Dr.R.Deivakumar, Self Help groups project of SEVAI coordinator Ms.P.Vanitha, Mr.Shantha Kumar of Trichy spastic Society and school teachers and principals and functionaries of Vazhi Kattuvoom Thittam also participated in this project. –Govin