Sports Council boosts Special Olympics preparations
Athletes with intellectual challenges can now concentrate peacefully on preparations for next month’s Special Olympics World Games in America after the Sports Council funded the trip to the tune of K16 million.
The funding will meet travel and attire expenses for the 18-member Malawi team, Special Olympics Malawi national director Felix Chisowa confirmed on Friday ahead of the games running from July 22 to August 2 2015.
“Sport is a powerful force. It can shift the focus from disability to ability, from isolation to involvement,” Chisowa said.
He added that such games in America stand to offer intellectually challenged athletes a platform to experience a new reality to transform their lives.
Special Olympics World Summer Games Organising Committee will meet the rest of Malawi’s expenses while in the United States.
Sports Council executive secretary George Jana confirmed the funding, adding that Special Olympics made known to the council in advance about the funding need.
“Our expectation is that they will do well as this is a special group of athletes,” Jana said yesterday.
Malawi’s team shall comprise five male and female athletes, three supporting staff and five coaches. Special Olympic will comprise 16-Olympic style disciplines involving 7 000 athletes from 177 nations with Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as the main venue.
