'Paralympic and Special Day'

Doha, March 21 (QNA) - Participants in the School Olympics Program Paralympic Day have tripled over the past two years, the Director of the School Olympics Program said Wednesday. This unique event offers students with a disability the opportunity to take part in a variety of different sporting events, including a number of athletics sports and table-tennis. "Sporting events such as today's allow for better integration of children with a disability whether they are active in sports or not, and allow them to see the extent of what they can achieve," said Noora Al Mannai Doha 2020 CEO. The Program - already hailed a success as it has attracted over 19,000 participating young boys and girls- comes a month after Doha 2020 submitted its Applicant File to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last month in their bid to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Games will 'leave a legacy of equality and promote lasting social inclusion, accessibility and awareness.' "More and more attention has been paid over the years to paralympic activities in Qatar, and if Doha wins the honor of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games, this will be the ideal beacon of inspiration for all people with disability," Al Mannai added. This fifth edition of the Schools Olympic Program has the theme 'Sport and Family' which sees school boys and girls aged five to 18 competing for medals in nine Olympic sports: Athletics, Volleyball, Basketball, Handball, Table-tennis, Fencing, Gymnastics, Swimming and Football. "We can already see a clear shift in the way the Paralympic Games are viewed - not only has the number of participants tripled over the past 2 years but the numbers of parents and friends coming to cheer them on has increased as well," said Mohammad Al Fadala, Executive Director of the School Olympics Program (SOP). "We can only imagine the change for people with disabilities and special needs community that bringing the world's most important Paralympic event to Doha would inspire," he added. (QNA)