Specially-abled athletes cry foul

Aug 11, 2010 - Age Correspondent |
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Even as the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games and other civic agencies are being sharply criticised for failing to complete the work on time in connection with the Commonwealth Games-2010, the disabled athletes seems to have been completely left behind. A group of disabled rights activists and athletes,

braving heavy rains, protested outside the residence of Union sports minister M.S. Gill in New Delhi alleging mismanagement and corruption in the handling of disabled athletes’ participation in the Games.
Talking to this newspaper, disabled rights group convenor Javed Abidi said that nobody seems to care that there would be at least 15 competitions during the CWG-2010 in which the athletes with special needs will participate. “These will be in swimming, athletics, power-lifting and table tennis. Together, they will account for 45 medals,” said Mr Abidi, adding that India, however, was not competing in at least two such competitions on account of alleged non-availability of sporting wheel chairs used in wheel chair race.
Mr Abidi further added that the government has earmarked Rs 13 crores towards preparations for the disabled athletes. “They had ear-marked Rs 5 crore each in 2008-09 and 09-10, while in 2010-11 it has allocated Rs 3 crore. But the sports ministry has told us that only Rs 5 crore has been spent. Even that expenditure is yet to be explained,” said Mr Abidi.
Earlier, the games for disabled people were either not held or held separately. However, with respect to the Commonwealth Games, it was decided to hold both these categories of Games at one event.

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