Goa's 13 special athletes set for life-changing experience in Berlin

Panaji: There’s a reason why any athlete can be at the Special Olympics World Games just once in their lifetime.

Alternating between summer and winter, the World Games have become the flagship event of the Special Olympics movement and have grown to be an international demonstration of inclusion and acceptance.

It’s an event that brings the world’s special athletes together. In Berlin, where the next edition is being held later this month, there will be 7,000 athletes, representing 190 countries, who will compete in 26 disciplines. Some win medals, but everyone returns home a winner.

“It’s a one-time opportunity that changes their life,” said Victor Vaz, national sports director of Special Olympics Bharat. “These athletes experience a lot of things like accommodation, competition, meeting other athletes, communicating with everyone. All this makes them confident.”

India has over a million special athletes, and Special Olympic Bharat strives to ensure that each one of them gets a taste of this event. There will be 197 special athletes representing India in Berlin. “When these Games provide life-changing experiences, then we should not be repeating the athletes. We should have new athletes, and all of them should experience this once in their life.”

The Special Olympics World Games will take place in Berlin from June 17 to 25, a first for Germany. Thirteen Goan athletes have got the nod and they will represent India in futsal, athletics (male and female), roller skating (female), basketball (male and female), judo (male and female), unified volleyball (male and female) and handball.

“Even though the Goa number (of participants) is less compared to previous years, I am confident that they will win more medals,” said Guruprasad Pawaskar, state commissioner for Persons with Disabilities. “The effort that these athletes, and their coaches, have put in is phenomenal.”

The Goa contingent was accorded a warm send off with chief minister Pramod Sawant and sports minister Govind Gaude in attendance at the Sanjay Centre for Special Education in Porvorim on Friday.

Social welfare minister Subhash Phaldesai stayed back till the conclusion of the event and pointed at Goa’s phenomenal record at the World Games.

“If you look at the medal figures, it is clear that Goa is much ahead of other states when it comes to performances. The opportunity to go to Berlin is not due to any sympathy, but a result of their talent, hard work and performances. I am sure the parents would be proud of their children. Once they return (with medals), it will make them feel like on top of the world,” said Phaldesai.

Since Anthony Colaco picked a long jump gold at Minnesota in 1991, Goa’s record at the World Games has been impressive. Between 1991 and 2019, Goa won 84 medals which includes 32 gold and 20 silver.

“I want a medal from Berlin. I don’t care what colour it is. I just want to win something for myself and make my parents and brothers proud,” said Geetanjali Narvekar, who will represent India in 400m, 800m and 4x400m relay.

Should Geetanjali win a medal, there will be cash prizes: Rs 5 lakh for gold, Rs 3 lakh for silver and Rs 2 lakh for bronze from the Union ministry of sports and youth affairs. The Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) also has its own rewards: Rs 1 lakh for gold, Rs 50,000 for silver and Rs 25,000 for bronze.

Even if the athletes don’t win anything, they’ll return home richer with experience. Like Vaz says, “their lives will never be the same again.”