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Former U.S. President William Clinton receives a cricket bat from Special Olympics Bharat (India) athletes Ragini and Rajdeep Singh and Special Olympics Asia Pacific Managing Director Troy Greisen (right). [Photos courtesy Special Olympics Asia Pacific] |
On Thursday, 30 November 2006, 12 Special Olympics Bharat (India) athletes met with former U.S. President William J. Clinton in Delhi, India. The Special Olympics contingent, made up of male and female cricket players, celebrated the growth of Special Olympics Bharat (India) with the President, as well as the success of the recent Special Olympics International Cricket Cup, which was held 6-13 November 2006 in Mumbai, India.
The athletes presented Clinton with a Special Olympics cricket bat and a commemorative plate bearing the logo of the Cricket Cup. Rajdeep Singh, Vice Captain of Special Olympics Bharat cricket team, said, “I had the honor of presenting the cricket bat to Mr. Clinton and shaking hands with him. He is my idol. Thanks to Special Olympics for giving me this opportunity."
“President Clinton seemed to enjoy the time he spent with our athletes very much,” said Special Olympics Asia Pacific Managing Director Troy Greisen. “He lit up when he saw them and was very generous with his time and attention, talking to all the athletes, posing for numerous pictures and clearly having a great time. We all truly appreciate his support and enthusiasm.” Greisen added that Clinton asked a number of questions about the movement in India, and reminisced about his past experiences with Special Olympics.
President Clinton is a longtime supporter of the movement. During his presidency, Clinton opened the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Connecticut, and in both 1998 and 2000, he and First Lady Hillary Clinton hosted a Christmas concert at the White House to honor the spirit of Special Olympics. In 2005, he visited the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, participating in the Global Youth Forum, watching a floor hockey match and meeting with athletes.
President Clinton, a longtime supporter of the Special Olympics movement, poses with the Special Olympics Bharat delegation. Left-right (seated): Joginder, Ragini, President Clinton, Troy Greisen, Tushar and Kanika; (standing) Ekta Jha, Saurav, Lakshaya, Jai, Rajdeep, Pawan and Harpreet.
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