Sporting special abilities

India’s stellar performance at the recently-concluded Special Olympic World Summer Games in los Angeles makes for an incredibly inspiring story of hope, perseverance and success. The 275-member strong Indian contingent brought home as many as 173 medals — 47 golds, 54 silvers and 72 bronze pieces. The sportspersons participated in 14 disciplines and emerged especially successful in athletics, bagging as many as 47 medals, including three golds. They also put up a stunning performance in roller skates, winning 39 medals, including 10 golds. Yet another gold came from soft ball, where India made its debut this year. Overall, the contingent competed against sportspersons from more than 160 countries over a period of nine days. It also improved on its previous record from the 2011 Games, when it had won 156 medals. What makes each of these wins unique is that each of the sportspersons is a special-needs individual. The Special Olympic Games is for people with intellectual disabilities —these are folks who are ignored by society for being dullards or slow. They are often misunderstood and their individual potential is rarely nurtured. The Special Olympic Games helps break those stereotypes and reminding people that even though some amongst face particular challenges can be productive members of society. In the process, it changes the way people with mental disabilities are viewed, making for a more inclusive society.

India’s 173 medal tally becomes even more impressive when one takes into consideration that only the US and China had a better record. Notably, both countries have far superior infrastructure and facilities not just for special-needs sportspersons but for sports and disabled persons in general. That India has been able to match the top players, despite its many drawbacks, speaks volumes about the individual potential of its sportspersons – and how they can script victory with just a little bit of help and guidance in the right direction. This is where Special Olympics Bharat, the managing organisation, comes into play. Over the years, Special Olympics Bharat has been successful in picking the right candidates and training them well. Its focus on shelter homes has also paid off – for example, 10 athletes, who brought home seven medals, were selected from the Delhi Government-run Asha Kiran Home. Similarly, 17-year-old Phoolan Devi, who won one gold and three bronze medals in powerlifting, also comes from a shelter home. She had been abandoned in the capital last year and was rescued by the police. Rajvir Singh, who won two gold medals in cycling events, is the son of the son of a daily wage worker from Punjab. Perhaps, there is a lesson in here for the Paralympics Committee of India, which handles physically challenged sportspersons and was re-recognised earlier this year. The international Olympics authorities suspended PCI (for the third time) ostensibly due to internal management issues.