Tamilnadu athletes of Special Olympic-2011 brought laurels to India- J.Paul Devasagayam

Tamilnadu Special Olympic Medalists with their coaches

Trichy: 7, July 2011: Tamilnadu athletes of Special Olympic-2011 brought laurels to India- said J.Paul Devasagayam, Director of Special Olympic Bharath, Taminadu. He further said “Special Olympics Bharat is the one of the largest Delegation with 245 members Squad including 183 Athletes. India participated in 12 sports and won 78 Gold, 73 Silver and 92 bronze the Total medal tally of 243”. Special Olympics Tamilnadu Represented the country with 9 athletes and two coaches, Mr.J.Paul Devasagayam and Mrs. Julia Vasanthi. All Tamilnadu 9 athletes brought laurels to India as well as our states by bagging Total no of 12 medals 3 golds, 2 silver and 7 Bronz.Chandra Bose won 2 gold and 1 silver in roller skating,  Archana won 1 gold and 1 Bronz in cycling, Hari Srinivasan won 1 Silver in Team Hand Ball Men, Gokila won 1 bronze in 4*400 mtrs Relay, Karthikeyan won 1 Bronze in Men Volley Ball,Sindhu and Priya  won Bronz medals in Team Hand ball Women, Praveena & Shanthi won Bronze medals in Volley ball women. Greek President Karolos Papoulias officially declared open the Athens 2011. World Summer Special Olympics on Saturday evening in a spectacular ceremony staged at the Panathinaikon Stadium, the venue of the first modern 1896 Olympic Games. Approximately 7,500 Special Olympics athletes from 183 countries participate in the Games that went from 24^th June to July 4 in a string of 30 venues across Athens. They had competed in all sports, sending the world the message that persons with mental disabilities could become valuable members of the international community. Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver and Greek Special Olympics Organizing Committee President Joanna Despotopoulou made elaborate arrangements. Approximately 40,000 family members, over 2,300 coaches and 25, 000 volunteers assisted around 3,000 journalists from across the world recorded the achievements of the athletes who represent four million people with intellectual disabilities across the globe”.

Golden boy Chandrabose

Trichy Special Olympic Chairman Dr.K.Govindaraju and the office bearers sent the messages of congratulating the winners of medals and the participants. Dr.K.Govindaraju congratulated SOB-Tamilnadu Director, Shri. J. Paul Devasagayam for his hard and his peace loving efforts for supporting the intellectually challenged Athletes and organizers of SOB, Tamilnadu Branch. The insolvent and encouragement of Air Marshall (Retd) Denzil Keelor, Chairman, Special Olympics Bharat, in preparing the children for their display their athletic skill, determination and courage at the birthplace of modern sport was very much appreciated by Trichy Olympic Chapter and the SOB-TN,Trichy Chapter also appreciated the office bearers of Special Olympic Bharath, New Delhi for their Achievements in Athens, Greece.SOB-TN,Trichy branch also congratulated Asha Deepam Special School, Crawford, Trichy and Vidivelli school Trichy for encouraging their students Athletes and gave them opportunity for the participation in Special Olympic in Athens. Dr.K.Govindaraju as Chairman of Special Olympic Trichy extended his thanks to Trichy District Collector SMT.Jayashree Muralidharan and members of District Welfare committee for their support of Rs.70000 as the part of the preparation and also the pocket money for the Trichy Athletes for their participation in this Special Olympic. Special Olympic Chairman, Trichy appreciated the efforts of Mrs.Syamala, District Rehabilitation Welfare Officer, Trichy for her efforts as officials for supporting this Special Olympic global wide program. Trichy Special Olympic also thanked the media persons for giving wide coverage of Trichy Athletes before and after the Special Olympic achievements. -Govin