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    Special Olympics Pakistan to Compete in Los Angeles for World Games 2015

    Written by: Yusra Hayat
    Posted on: July 23, 2015 |

    Special Olympics Pakistan

    “Let me win – but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt” – Special Olympics World Games 2015

    The Special Olympics Movement was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver to offer one of the world's greatest platforms for the inclusion and empowerment of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, nationality or cultural difference. It is a non-profit organization that ensures the provision of year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic sports for intellectually disabled individuals, giving them opportunities to develop physical fitness, overcome their disabilities, break stereotypes, exhibit valor, and share their talent and pride with their families and other Special Olympics athletes across 165 countries.

    Farah Vohra represented the Asia-Pacific region in the World Games 2011

    Farah Vohra represented the Asia-Pacific region in the World Games 2011

    Every four years, Special Olympics creates an avenue for athletes from all over the world to come together and compete in the Special Olympics World Games. This year, over 6,500 athletes from 165 countries will demonstrate their skills, zeal and determination in Los Angeles from July 25th to August 2nd, 2015. The First Lady, Michelle Obama, will represent the United States as Honorary Chair at the largest sports and humanitarian event of the year. 55 athletes from Special Olympics Pakistan will take part in 9 World Games: athletics, power lifting, basketball, tennis, table tennis, aquatics, cycling, football and badminton.

    The basketball team preparing for the 2015 LA Games

    The basketball team preparing for the 2015 LA Games

    The Pakistan team has trained exceptionally well over the past few years. They won 15 gold medals, 20 silver medals and 16 bronze medals at the 2007 World Games in Shanghai, China and 59 medals in the Games held at Athens, Greece in 2011. This year, the athletes have trained rigorously at camps set in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, and hope to produce similarly impressive results at the big games. The strength they exude today proves that they have not let any impediment shatter their spirits, and have become bolder, faster and stronger over the years. Their enthusiasm is not only commendable, but is extremely inspiring. Almost all of the 55 participants demonstrate an unflinching desire and eagerness to become champions at the Olympics in Los Angeles. They are confident and unwavering in their sports fervor, and appear indomitable. According to coach Tanveer, “All the kids selected to participate in the World Games have improved tremendously. They have learnt how to streamline their passions and achieve their goals. They have worked on their interpersonal skills as well as their athletic abilities.” Coaches Tanveer and Daniyal Alvi believe that the young participants of Special Olympics Pakistan have remained consistent and persevered in all their battles. They are hopeful that the team will be valiant and will emerge victorious in the Los Angeles games.

    Send-off reception for SOP LA Games

    Send-off reception for SOP LA Games

    Hammad bin Nauman, silver medalist for basketball at the National Games 2014, who has three other intellectually disabled siblings, was a reticent young man before he joined the Special Olympics Pakistan team. Over the course of his time at the camp, he has become a loving, disciplined, confident and responsible team player who is always looking out for his team members. According to his coach, “Hammad motivates all the others, and has become quite the role model at the camp.” Neelofer Vohra, mother of Farah Vohra, has been ecstatic about her child’s development ever since she joined the team. “Farah’s speech has improved, her self-confidence has shot up, and her social abilities have definitely surged over the last few years. She carried the torch in the world games of 2011 in Greece, representing the Asia-Pacific region, which boosted her morale tremendously”. Haseeb Abbasi, a Special Olympics cyclist, believes that prior to his selection at the Special Olympics Pakistan team, he had no say in the community. “I have a voice now. I can be heard. I want to become the proud Pakistani voice at the World Games!” he exclaimed excitedly.

    Special Olympics Pakistan’s great initiative has attracted several volunteers to its cause. “I love my job! It’s so fulfilling and enriching”, said Sarah Amin Ali, an enthusiastic volunteer at the camp, and ex-captain of the girls’ football team at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). “These kids have so much potential and energy. They are always willing to learn and out-do themselves,” she added.

    This particular sports platform has enabled hundreds of young Pakistanis to fight their limitations and realize their true potential. The athletes battle with undeterred spirits and hope to bring the trophy home this year from the United States. With a lot of love, warmth and high aspirations, the entire Pakistani community cheers on for these diligent and committed national heroes who left the country on the 21st of July to compete against the world and return home, triumphant.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021