Special Olympics from March 10

NEW DELHI, March 4: Over 1,000 mentally disabled children are expected to participate in the three-day 10th Delhi Special Olympics beginning here on March 10. Children from over 20 institutions will compete in two team events cricket and football and 37 athletic events, president of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Air Marshal D Keelor, told a press meet today.

Participants would be grouped on the basis of their ability and divided into age groups 8-11, 12-15, and 16-21, Keelor said. Competition is also open to those over 21, he said. Adequate precautions have been taken to cope with any eventuality during the competitions, with 80 volunteers and staffers from Sports Authority of India (SAI) enlisted. While four teams will compete in cricket the six-team football competition would be six-a-side affairs played on a field half the size of a normal ground.