Walk to promote Paralympics in India

Around a thousand civilians, disabled school children and members of various organisations working for the disabled across India will walk Aug 28 here for the promotion of Paralympics in the country, an organiser said Tuesday.

Organised by the Civilian Welfare Foundation (CWF), the third edition of 'Walk For Paralympics' will draw participants from 36 Kolkata-based schools, 52 organisations (including organisations which work for the physically-disabled) and 200 schools for the disabled from the country.

"The walk will start from Jadavpur University, at 8B bus stand, at 2 p.m. and finish at Deshapriya Park (south Kolkata). We are propagandizing the word Paralympics and trying to generate awareness for this section of athletes and sports," Harsh Jaiswal, secretary, CWF, told IANS.

"Para-athletes across the state and the nation as well as students from different disability schools will walk together with people from all strata of society," he said.

He said this year's focus is on women athletes below the age of 21 and equality for all sports.

"We want to highlight the fact that all forms of sports should be given equal importance and played equally and the fact that in India, the sex ratio with regard to sports participation is drastically low compared to other countries," Jaiswal said.

Officials from consulates of U.S., U.K., Brazil and Nepal in Kolkata have also confirmed their presence.

"Brazil is very important to us as it is hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics as well as the 2016 Summer Paralympics," he said.