Pakistani athletes head for Winter Special Olympics in Austria

LAHORE: Pakistani differently abled athletes are poised to earn laurels for their country as they head for the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria.

A sixteen member delegation from Pakistan is scheduled to depart for Vienna on Monday March 13.

Two differently-abled children from Abbottabad have been selected to participate in the Special Olympics. Huzaifa and Ramsha are confident to earn laurels for the country.

Principal Rise for Inclusion school said that both have trained adequately and are fully prepared for the global event.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on Friday met with three special athletes Abdullah Tahir, Farrukh Ihsan, and Mehwish Tufail and distributed cheques for sponsorship of 300,000 rupees each.

The chief minister encouraged them and said that the country was proud to have them represent Pakistan and wished for their success at the winter games. They will participate in cross-country ski and snow-shoeing events and have been training in Naltar and Shogran since last year.

He said the government is striving for provision of rights and opportunities to special youth  through participation in educational, sports, recreational and skills development activities.

Punjab Sports Minister Jehangir Khanzada while addressing a press conference said that Pakistan delegation includes six male and six female athletes and four officials.

The Special Olympics World Winter Games will be held in Graz, Schladming and Ramsau in Austria from 14 to 25 March. Almost 2,700 Special Olympics athletes from 169 countries will take part in thirty sports.