Joyful send-off for Special Olympics athletes

The Malaysian Special Olympics team showing their enthusiasm during the sendoff. With them is Yeoh (centre). — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

THE 16 Malaysian athletes heading to the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany, have been overcoming hurdles their whole life and there will be more inspiring moments to come.

From June 17 to 25, these individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) will compete in athletics, badminton, bocce, bowling, swimming and table tennis, together with 7,000 other athletes from around the world.

Joining the Malaysian athletes to compete on the same team in selected events are six athletes without ID, called unified partners, who have trained and played alongside the 16 athletes.

The 39-member Malaysian delegation is headed by Dr Sivanesan Govindasamy and assistant delegation head Bong Koi Sin, with specialist coaches, officials and medical staff providing support.

At the flag handover ceremony at Sunway University in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, the athletes took the Special Olympics athletes’ oath — “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

They then received the Malaysian flag from Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh in a symbolic send-off.

Also present were National Sports Council (NSC) director- general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi along with parents and guardians.

Yeoh said the ministry allocated RM160,000 to Special Olympics Malaysia (SOM).

“The ministry and NSC will also look into how else we can support specialist coaches who are involved with the Special Olympics,” she said.

Yeoh, in a social media post following the ceremony, said that she was inspired to adopt the athletes’ oath for her term as minister.

At the last edition of the Special Olympics held four years ago in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Malaysian contingent won five gold, six silver and three bronze medals.

SOM president Law Saw Yin said families, coaches and volunteers as well as sponsors and partners helped the athletes to fulfil their potential and go beyond disability to ability.

“The unified partners highlight the power of inclusion in fostering a sense of belonging,” she said.

In addition to the ministry and NSC, main sponsors U Mobile as well as other corporations extended their support to the Malaysian contingent.

Sunway Education Group chief executive officer Prof Datuk Elizabeth Lee said they were proud to provide the venue for the send-off as part of their commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for peace and prosperity.

“Give your best and bring back the best of experiences, memories and friendships.

“You have come so far and I have no doubt you will win in Berlin,” she told the athletes.