With opportunity and trust, Every person can become extraordinary
CM attends inauguration of National Athletics Championship in Rohtak
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said that athletes participating in the ‘Special Olympics’ are sending a strong message by overcoming challenges that if given opportunity, proper training and confidence, every individual can achieve extraordinary success.
The Chief Minister was addressing the inaugural function of the Special Olympics Bharat Athletics National Championship held on Tuesday at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. More than 500 athletes, along with their coaches and support staff from 26 states, are participating in this championship.
During the programme, the Chief Minister said that a special stadium will be constructed in Haryana for persons with disabilities (PwDs) athletes. The stadium will also include residential facilities for the athletes. The Chief Minister also announced a grant of Rs. 31 lakh to Special Olympics Bharat, while Minister of State for Sports, Sh. Gaurav Gautam announced an additional grant of Rs. 21 lakh.
Earlier, Saini also laid the foundation stone for the construction of a Girls’ Sports Hostel at the Abhilasha Girls’ Hostel complex of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak. The proposed hostel will have a capacity to accommodate 150 girl students. This multi-storey structure (ground plus three floors) will have a total covered area of approximately 2,374 square metres and will be constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs. 5 crore.
Addressing the gathering, Saini said that the true essence of the Special Olympics lies in viewing sports not merely as a competition for medals, but as a reflection of the power and potential of the human spirit. The athletes running, jumping and competing on the field teach us that limitations exist not in the body, but in the mindset. Along with the national championship, initiatives such as health and medical camps, youth activation programmes and athlete leadership training are also being organised. These efforts aim not only at physical fitness but also at mental empowerment and leadership development. This is true inclusion, where athletes emerge not just as medal winners but as active citizens, role models and sources of inspiration for society.
The Chief Minister further said that often Paralympics and Special Olympics are considered the same, whereas both are different but equally important. Paralympics are organised for athletes with physical disabilities, while Special Olympics is a global movement for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It focuses not only on competition but also on training, participation, confidence building and lifelong development. He said that Special Olympics Bharat is recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, and stands as a strong example of the country’s inclusive sports policy. In the Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Italy, a 49-member Indian contingent participated, and 28 athletes won 33 medals, making the entire country proud. These medals reflect stories of discipline, struggle and self-belief, he added.