National Winter Games for special children begins

Shimla, Jan 28: Over 750 athletes from 21 states are taking part in the National Winter Games for special children, which began here today.
The athletes would take part in Ice Hockey, Skiing, Snow Board and Snow Snowing during the five-day championships that would be held at Bishop Cotton School, Asia's oldest public school, at Narkanda, an official spokesman said in a release here.

He said the team for the World Winter Games, to be held at US in 2009, would be selected based on the performance of the athletes in these games. Speaking on the occasion after declaring the National Championship open, state Governor V S Kokje said special persons should be helped in bringing out their abilities and removing their disabilities.

He said these children had done the country proud in the last Special Olympics by winning several medals, adding that their efforts to excel in their sporting fields would also help in overcoming their disability.

UNI