ACTUALITE |
26.10.2007
Cameroon Grabs 3 Medals At Shangai Special Olympics
They won gold in long jump, silver in short-put and bronze in the 25m race.
Though Cameroon took part with only four athletes at the just ended Special Olympic Games in Shangai-China, the country was able to obtain three medals, a gold, silver and bronze medal, all won in athletics. The gold medal was won by Kaptie Emilie Lore in long jump. The same Emilie Kaptie won a bronze medal in the 25m race whereas Oyono Ndi Salomon won silver in short put.
According to the Director of Programmes at Special Olympics-Cameroon, Aleokol Mabieme Jean-Marie, Cameroon would have done better, had it not been due to financial difficulties that hindered their preparation and stopped them from taking more athletes to China. He regretted the fact that Special Olympics was not receiving the same attention from the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education as other sports disciplines, saying they have never been received by the Minister after a victorious trip abroad as is the case with athletes from other disciplines. Presently, Cameroon he said is preparing to host the competition at the central African level and the next edition of the Special Olympic Games will take place in Athens-Greece 2011.
Special Olympics is an international organization created to help people with intellectual disabilities develop self-confidence, social skills and a sense of personal accomplishment through sports training and competition. Among their other activities, Special Olympics conduct the Special Olympics World Games every four years. The Special Olympics was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1962. Shriver’s sister with an intellectual disability, the late Rosemary Kennedy, is often credited as her inspiration to create Special Olympics. The Special Olympics originally conducted a series of sports camps known as Camp Shriver, beginning in June 1962. These evolved into an international sporting competition for intellectually disabled athletes. The first International Special Olympics Games were held in Chicago, Illinois, USA, in 1968. The first Winter Special Olympics were held in February 1977 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA. In 1988, the Special Olympics was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It is the only sports organization authorized by the IOC to use the name Olympics in its title.
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