The First Special Olympics International Cricket Cup
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Special Olympics Bharat (India) athlete Joginder Bendi prepares to bat during the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Cricket Tournament 1-6 December 2004 in Ahmedabad, India. Bendi was the team captain of the Special Olympics Delhi team, which won a gold medal. Cricket is a recognized* Special Olympics sport in an ever-growing number of countries, including India, Pakistan and Australia. |
The First Special Olympics International Cricket Cup will be held in Mumbai, India, 6-13 November 2006. The major international sporting event marks the official launch of cricket as a recognized sport for Special Olympics globally. Cricket also was recently declared a demonstration sport at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China.
NEW!
Special Olympics Programs from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and West Indies are scheduled to participate. Female teams from India and Pakistan also will compete. Ten male, three female, and Unified Sports teams will make up the field. (Special Olympics Unified Sports® is an initiative that combines approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities, called partners, on sports teams for training and competition.) Venues include Cross Maidan, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Police Gymkhana and Oval Maidan.
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Participants:
• 180 Athletes
• 60 Coaches
• 120 Officials
• 1,500 Volunteers |
The Special Olympics International Cricket Cup will boast additional activities to engage athletes and spectators alike, including the following Special Olympics Initiatives:
- Healthy Athletes screenings — The Healthy Athletes® initiative is designed to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness by having trained volunteer doctors provide medical screenings.
- Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs) — ALPs offer athletes the opportunity to take active leadership roles both on and off the playing field through self-directed, meaningful participation in virtually any aspect of the Special Olympics movement, such as serving on Boards of Directors, officiating competitions or coaching other athletes.
- Young Athletes™ Clinics — Young Athletes is an innovative sports program for children with intellectual disabilities, designed to introduce them to the world of sports prior to Special Olympics eligibility at age 8.
For more information about the Special Olympics International Cricket Cup, please contact:
Ekta Jha (e-mail: ejha@specialolympics.org)
Manager, Public Relations & Communication
Special Olympics Asia Pacific
A-57, Lower Ground Floor
Nizamuddin East New Delhi -110013, India
+ 91 11 418 25 366 / 67
+ 91 11 41825364 (Fax)
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New Delhi batsman celebrating a boundary (scoring four runs) during the first-ever Special Olympics Asia Pacific Cricket Tournament. [Photo by Ryan M. Murphy] |
The game of cricket originated in England in the 18th century and is now played worldwide. Cricket is especially popular in Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the West Indies.
* Note that there are two classifications of sports in Special Olympics: Official Sports and Recognized Sports. Recognized sports are those that Special Olympics authorizes for inclusion in training and competition programs based on criteria and procedures that includes the determination that the addition of the sport will enhance the year-round aspect of sports training and competition that is fundamental to Special Olympics and provide meaningful opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities, including age-appropriate activities, activities for lower ability athletes, etc.
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