Sunday Times 2
Annual Sunshine Games on February 16
View(s):The annual Sunshine Games organised by the Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan will be held on Saturday, February 16 at Campbell Park, Colombo 8, with around 35 schools and institutions for differently abled children from across the country taking part.
An event at last year's Games
The events will be conducted according to the participants’ capabilities and the following age categories; Under 12, 14, 16 and 18. While there are other sports events organised in the country for differently abled persons, organisers from the Rotary Club note that this is the only event of its type specifically for children between the ages of 8-18.
“Sport is therapeutic and it is a way to show how you can overcome anything when faced with challenges,” commented an organiser. 100m, 200m, shot-put, long jump and wheel chair races are a few of the 200 events which will be held on the day, all conducted under the supervision of the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka.
Along with the sponsors, Hirdaramani Group of Companies, EPIC Group, Hilton Colombo Residencies, The Hilton Colombo, Windforce, Crescent Foods, Anverally and Sons, Olu Tropical Water, hSenid Software International, Akbar Brothers and Jafferjee Brothers, the Games are conducted with the assistance of the club’s volunteers as well.
“It is an event that both the participants, the schools as well as the Rotarians look forward to and work towards,” remarked another organiser. The participants are provided with breakfast, lunch, refreshments and tea, and the winners will receive gold, silver and bronze medals and certificates, while all participants would be given t-shirts and baseball caps.
The Sunshine Games has over the years become a platform where contenders are chosen for and go on to compete in future international sports events for differently abled persons.