Imphal, Dec.4 : Special Olympics Bharat, Manipur chapter recently organised a MedFest camp and BOCCE tournament for the differently disabled persons in Imphal.

MedFest is a Special Olympics Healthy Athletes screening program that facilitates the required standard sports physical examination for current and prospective Special Olympics athletes.

It provides thousands of people with intellectual disabilities the chance to participate in year-round Special Olympics sports training and athletic competition.

It was for the first time that such an event was organized for encouraging differently able persons in the north-east region of the country. Conducted by Manipur's Special Olympic State Games, the event was meant to encourage the mentally disabled persons to come out and socialize. ver 600 differently able persons having varying mental disabilities converged here from across the State for the event.

The organization focuses on individuals who were not enrolled in any special school and provided them an opportunity to participate in year-round Special Olympics sports training and athletic competition.

Hoinu Khongsai, a mother on the occasion, said: "At times we feel bad taking our children out thinking that they are not presentable. We feel good to bring our children here and it's a privilege getting such an exposure. Even our children are happy to be here."

H. Thoibi Devi, another mother, said: "This is a very good initiative. Our children do not get opportunities to come out and interact with other people. I've brought my son here so that he can enjoy, learn and interact with other children as well."

Medfest, is an international movement, which has trained more than 1.2 million athletes and organised over 200 Special Olympics programmes in 150 countries, 26 Olympics-type Summer and Winter sports and more that 20,000 competitions around the world each year.

MedFest has enabled individuals who are deprived of various facilities an opportunity to gain education and other self care services. By L.C.K Singh

ANI