The majority of people with intellectual disabilities are isolated and discriminated globally. They are labelled as disabled people who can do nothing but the fact is that they are capable of many activities that normal people cannot do. If they are given an opportunity to show their talents, they can be recognised as gifted people and be included in Society as skilled and respectable people to be involved in our society.
This concept was promoted by the Joe F. Kennedy family who had an intellectually disabled sister in the family. They created the Special Olympics from the grass root level and registered intellectual disability people around 176 countries by creating families, volunteer students and coaches. There are 700,000 intellectually disabled people living in Sri Lanka.
There are as many as 200 million people with intellectual disabilities around the world. Our goal is to reach out to every one of them - and their families as well. The Special Olympics does this through a wide range of training, competitions, health screenings and fund-raising events. We also create opportunities for families, community members, local leaders, businesses, law enforcement, celebrities, dignitaries and others to band together to change attitudes and support athletes.
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience, joy and participate in sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Special Olympics International has introduced 40 Special Olympics categories designed specifically for people with intellectual disabilities.
Among them cricket, football, basketball and the most popular game has become badminton. Special Olympics International and the World Badminton Federation maintain close ties internationally and work together to bring some attention to the local programs for people in need. In Sri Lankan local programs, Special Olympics Serendib (Sri Lanka) and Sri Lanka Badminton have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together and give opportunities to the Special people to show their talents.
To celebrate World Badminton Day, Sri Lanka Badminton and Special Olympics Serendib organised a unique event on July 5, 2022. Special people, badminton icons and officials from both sides joined hands and walked on the streets, starting from Sri Lanka Badminton courts to showcase a special day to the community.
(The writer is Chairman, Special Olympics Serendib, Sri Lanka)