Indian mission salutes ‘special heroes’
dubai — The street leading up to the Indian Consulate in Dubai was heavily guarded with barricades on either side. A Dubai Police Patrol car stood still on the side of the road. It seemed that perhaps a very important, distinguished and special person was set to visit the consulate.
Indeed, it was a special occasion as the consulate honoured the athletes from Special Olympics Bharat, who won more than 200 medals in the 15th edition of the Special Olympics World Summer Games that was held in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
More than 7,500 athletes from over 192 countries took part in the event, making it the largest sports and humanitarian event in the world. It also set a new benchmark for the most unified games in the 50-year history of the Special Olympics movement.
Neeraj Agrawal, head of chancery and acting Consul-General, addressed the athletes as ‘our special heroes’. The Special Olympics Bharat contingent was accorded a fantastic welcome with the beats of the ‘dhal’ filling the air. They were also called on stage and honoured and fittingly enough, songs like Rang De Basanti and Chak De India played in the background. They were also handed mementos.
Agrawal said: “Let’s give a warm welcome to our special heroes. They have not only done our country proud but shown that they have the equal will power and determination and they are really something special. They just need our simple understanding and attention, nothing else. They are more than capable than what we are, we able-bodied people. Please give them a big round of applause.
“They participated in this edition of the Special Olympics World Games and there were more than 250 athletes. In Dubai, we had athletics and swimming in which more than 73 athletes participated and they have really made us proud. We have more than 250 medals so far, including 72 gold, 95 silver and 92 bronze medals. In swimming, they have won seven gold, six silver and five bronze medals and in athletics, they have won five gold medals, 16 silver and six bronze.
“I would also like to share that on behalf of the consulate, we also run a programme called Prerna and we also do whatever we can,” he concluded.
The athletes showed that they were not just exceptionally talented on the field but off it too with many of them dancing to popular Bollywood tunes.
Let’s give a warm welcome to our special heroes. They have not only done our country proud but shown that they have the equal will power and determination and they are really something special.” Neeraj Agrawal,
head of chancery and acting Consul-General