STATE FLOORBALL CAMP OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS BHARAT-ODISHA HELD
Bhubaneswar(15/08/2023): The State Floorball Coaching cum Selection Camp was organised by Special Olympics Bharat-Odisha from 11th to 14th of this month at the Bharati Rath Memorial Academy of Special Human Abilities (BRM-ASHA) in Bhubaneswar with the support of the Sports and Youth Services Department of the Government of Odisha.
Athletes, partners, coaches and officials numbering more than 100 from various districts of Odisha participated in the camp.
Apart from coaching the athletes, partners and coaches about the various skill sets and rules of the game, this camp was also conducted to select the athletes, partners and coaches from the State to participate in the National Camp to be held in September/October this year.
This is a precursor to the selection for the Indian Contingent to participate in the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 to be held in Italy.
A selection team comprising of international experience coach, Sasmita Mohapatra (Chairperson), Sarita Routray (Sports Specific International Athlete), Jhasketan Sahoo (Sports Specific Coach), Bibekananda Mohanty (General Coach), Manatosh Behera (Expert in Intellectual Disability) observed the proceedings and selected the male, female and unified teams for the National Camp.
It was an intensive coaching and skill assessment camp where only the best got selected from among so many contenders.
It was competitive but without ever hindering the camaraderie and friendship as are the established norms of Special Olympics.
There were no rivalries, only building friendship.
The Unified Partners of Odisha Brigade School from Keonjhar displayed exemplary understanding and discipline to get rousing applause while playing an Unified Game with the athletes.
Mohd.Amin, the founder of Adhikar, Suresh Chandra Khuntia, ex-University Level Cricketer, Bibekananda Das, ex-UBI Bank Manager and Bijaya Kumar Pattnaik, ex-CARE employee witnessed the proceedings as the guests during the conduct of the camp.
They appreciated the efforts put in for the camp and applauded the sincerity of the athletes, partners, coaches and officials.
Pradipta Kumar Rath, the Vice President of BRM-ASHA spoke highly of the athletes, coaches and partners during the closing ceremony after witnessing the games between two selected unified teams.
He wished that many more national and international athletes may come from Odisha in the future but also advised all the participants to strive for better and not to be complacent.
Making use of the facilities available there and using the camps as stepping stones would be ideal for the Academy that is meant for development of sports for Persons with Disabilities, opined Pradipta Kumar Rath. Prakash K Rath, Area Director, SOB-Odisha while thanking all concerned for their wholehearted participation, appreciated the support of the Sports & Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha for sponsoring the event.
The whole event was smoothly and ably conducted by Arpita Mohapatra, internationally acclaimed coach and State Program Coordinator, SOB-Odisha with good support of the Trainee Volunteers of Diploma in Special Education of Open Learning Systems .
