The town of Lobatse will from Wednesday host the southern region Special Olympics for learners with disabilities. The southern region includes Lobatse, Kanye, Jwaneng, Moshupa and Otse. The games will run from Wednesday 18th and are expected to go on until Sunday 22 June. Just over 500 participants will compete at the games. The athletes will be people who are challenged mentally with intellectually.
The athletes will compete in soccer, volleyball and athletics. The opening ceremony will start with a motorcade and a brief narration of the history of the Special Olympics. Athletics will take place in the first round of the games, followed by football and volleyball. Competing athletes will be aged between 12 and 22 years old. Speaking during an interview, Lobatse Assistant District Commissioner, Ernest Phiri, said the games will be held at two different venues.
“The official opening and the athletics games will be held at the new Lobatse stadium, while volley ball and soccer will be played at the Old Lobatse stadium,” he said.
He added that there will also be a beauty contest towards the end of the sporting event, followed by a medal awards ceremony and finally a closing ceremony. Phiri urged spectators to come to the games in large numbers to show support for people with disabilities.
“Our theme for this year is disability is not disability,” he said.
