Special Olympics Sandakan pledges full collaboration with school
SANDAKAN: The chairman of Special Olympics Sandakan (SOS), Taren Sunil Manoharan, has pledged full collaboration with SK Sungai Anib III on the Special Integration Education Programme for kids with special needs.
During an orientation week for these special kids held at the school on Tuesday, Taren Sunil pointed out that Special Olympics Sandakan (SOS) strongly believes that all kids, including those with special needs, should be given the opportunity to develop their latent abilities whether it is academic or in the field of sports.
“We are very proud that our special kids have developed their talent in the arena of sports to such a level that they have consistently won gold, silver and bronze medals at various sports and games at the district, state and national levels. In fact, even at the international level, they have brought home gold, silver and bronze medals,” said Taren Sunil, referring to their very successful outing at the World Special Olympics Games held in Austria some years ago.
Noting that Special Olympics kids, including those from Sandakan, have proven themsleves to be very good at certain games such as bocce, the SOS chairman gave credit to their dedicated coaches who have tirelessly contributed their time and effort to develop these talented youngsters into champions.
“The benefits of getting special kids to involve themselves in games also help them build their self confidence and increase their sense of well being,” he said.
Taren Sunil who is also the president of the Sandakan Youth Tennis Club, has been slowly introducing the game of tennis to the special kids in Sandakan.
It is worthy to note that among all the Special Olympics chapters throughout Malaysia, Sandakan is the only one that has introduced tennis as one of the games for special kids.
“We want to give these kids more options to choose the game that they like so that they can continue with an active and healthy lifestyle as strongly promoted by the Government,” added Taren Sunil.
Present at the orientation function was Special Olympics Sabah chairman Dr Jiloris Julian Frederick Dony who gave words of encouragement to the kids joining the Special Integration Education (Pendidikan Integrasi Khas) programme at SK Sungai Anib III.
He also gave a clear briefing to all present, especially the kids and their parents, of what Special Olympics is all about.
Also in attendance were headmistress Anna Marie Raj, Senior Assistant for Special Education Shirley Liew and others involved in the programme.
Taren Sunil expressed his thanks and appreciation to the school for being part of the Special Integration Education programme where many of the Special Olympics students are being groomed for academic as well as sports excellence.
“The future of our special kids is much brighter with this Special Integration Education programme in place. We are truly grateful to those who teach and guide them with such dedication,” he concluded.