22 June 2009
Lagos — The Ijebu-Ode Sub-seat began the test running of its hosting facilities yesterday with the 2009 South West Regional Games of the Special Olympics Nigeria. The championship will run from June 21 to 25 at the Gateway International Stadium.
According to Mrs. Folashade Bolumole, the National Director, Special Olympics Nigeria, six states from the South West region, namely; Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Ekiti and Osun are participating with over 300 athletes. Some of the events being ran, according to her, iinclude 5-aside soccer, table tennis and athletics.
She added: "Alongside it will be a Healthy Athletes Screening programme in Audiology (Healthy Hearing). This is a free hearing screening designed to ensure proper audiological care for participating Special Olympics athletes."
It will be recalled that Special Olympics Nigeria started the 2009 Regional Games in the North Central region of the country, with Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, as venue, in April. About 255 athletes from Plateau, Niger, Kwara and Abuja took parts in three events in that maoden edition.
Bolumole also revealed the organisation's plans to organise Regional Games in North Central, South West, South East and South South geo political zones of the country, which will advance athletes to the National Games in 2010 and subsequently to the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.
Bolumole thanked GTBank, De-United Foods Ltd makers of Indomie Noodles, Nikky Taurus Ltd, Coca-Cola Nigeria and Equitorial Africa Limited for identifying with the organisation.
SO Nigeria is an affiliate of Special Olympics International, a non-governmental organisation that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This gives them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other special Olympics athletes and the community.
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