Special Olympics team leaves for Greece

By Erick Ochieng’

A team of 46 athletes will leave today for the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.

The Special Olympics Kenya National Team will participate in handball, football (women), athletics and volleyball (women) in the games to be staged from June 25 to July 4.

Sports Minister Paul Otuoma handed over the national flag to the team in Nairobi on Wednesday urging the team to carry the country’s image high.

Sports Minister Paul Otuoma hands over national flag to Special Olympics Team.

Otuoma reiterated the need to support sports and education to persons with disability.

"The same prominence given to elitist athletes should also be granted to athletes with special needs," said the minister who urged for corporate support saying it was a worthwhile endeavour.

Special Olympics Kenya Chairman Kimonye James is optimistic the team would return with medals from the 2011 edition. Joe Mutua, the Chief de mission and Samuel Gichobi Kiura as his assistant, would head the contingent.

The 13th Special Olympics World Games will be one of the largest sporting events held in the world in 2011 and the first major sporting event in Athens since the Olympics were held there in 2004.

Special Olympics Kenya Team of 46 athletes will be joining 7000 other athletes and teams from 170 nations around the world in Athens, Greece.