Chennai to host Special Olympics International Football Championship, Logo launched

Special Olympics International Football Championship 2019 India will be held in Jawaharlal  Nehru Stadium, Chennai in the first week of June, 2019.

The matches will start from June 6 and closing ceremony will be held on June 9.

SOIFC INDIA 2019 Torch will be received by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu along with Special Olympics Asia Pacific Dignitaries/ Celebrities from various fields / Lions Club Dignitaries/ Industrialists’/ Bureaucrats.

Announcing tbe Special Olympics International Dr Amar Prasad Reddy, Director General – National Cyber Safety & Security standards, Chairman – Special Olympics International Football Championship, said, “India has been honoured with the privilege of hosting the Special Olympics Football Championship at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai in the first week of June, 2019.

Top football athletes from around the world, with and without intellectual disabilities are expected to compete in the SOIFC this year for the Unified Cup. Unified Sports brings together persons with and without intellectual disabilities, to train and compete as teammates.

Unified Sports brings together persons with and without intellectual disabilities, to train and compete as teammates. Unified Sports helps athletes improve physical fitness, sharpen skills, challenge and compete and have fun in a variety of sports. Unified Sports enables people with intellectual disabilities to demonstrate and experience sports competence and that gains in self-confidence, self-esteem, employment and socialization which can carry
beyond Special Olympics.

Dr M.S. (John) Nagarajan Ph.D., Senior Sports Manager, Special Olympics Asia Pacific. Charles Borromeo, Padma Shri, Arjuna Awardee, 1982- Asian Games 800 meters Gold Medallist. Former Indian Track and Field Athlete, Cilvin J, Founder of Evoke Media, Director – Organising Committee, R. Suresh, Governor, Sivakumar, VDGI and Lion Rajapandiyan, VDG2, Lions Club International Dist. 324 A6 were also present.

Special Olympics programs in the Asia Pacific region are expanding rapidly with over 1.6 million athletes in 34 countries. Across the region, the goal is to promote respect, inclusion and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sports.