The two-day event has been organised by the government of Pakistan and Special Monitoring Unit of CM. Punjab. Photo: Punjab government/Twitter 

 

LAHORE: Around 1,110 athletes are participating in the 17th Punjab Special Olympics, which was inaugurated at Punjab Stadium on Wednesday.

The two-day event, which has been organised by the government of Pakistan, seeks to broaden horizons of people with disabilities and focuses on their inclusion in the field of sports.

The 1,100 athletes from all over the Punjab are defying all odds by participating in the event and showing their athletic skills at the provincial level.

The athletes are participating in a myriad of different sports competitions including athletics, basketball, badminton, bocce, cycling, football, table tennis, powerlifitng and swimming.

Model Mehreen Syed, who also attended the event, said in a video message: ?I don?t like using the term special children as I think there are children with special abilities. They deserve an equal right to life.?

She added, ?I am so happy SMU [Special Monitoring Unit] and Punjab government took this initiative. Athletes from different cities are participating in the event. These athletes also need to be appreciated.?

Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif had shared a vision of ?No Athlete Left Behind? at the ceremony for athletes with disabilities from Punjab before the Winter Games. 

The event will culminate on November 10.