Unified competition 2026 empowers athletes with intellectual disabilities

DIMAPUR, JULY 9 (NPN): The Unified Competition 2026, jointly organised by Special Olympics Bharat–Nagaland and the Development Association of Nagaland (DAN), was held at the DAN Carmel Higher Secondary School campus, Chekiye Village, Chümoukedima, on Wednesday. The event forms part of a two-year initiative aimed at promoting inclusive sports and expanding opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities across the Northeast under the motto, “Let me win. If I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
The competition sought to encourage sportsmanship, physical fitness, confidence and social inclusion among persons with intellectual disabilities while identifying talented athletes for district, state, national and international competitions. Participants competed in football, basketball, badminton, athletics and bocce.
A Healthy Athlete Programme was also organised in collaboration with Grace Nursing and Health Science Institute, Dimapur, where participants underwent basic health assessments and received awareness on healthy living, personal hygiene, hydration and physical fitness.
The event also marked the conclusion of a three-day coaches’ training camp attended by around 30 coaches from six Northeastern states. The training programme is part of a long-term roadmap to strengthen Special Olympics activities in the region through coach development, grassroots participation and structured competitions.
Speaking to the media, Founder and Area Director of Special Olympics Bharat–Nagaland, Arenla Tzudir, said the competition was designed to provide coaches with practical experience after completing an intensive training programme. Around 70 athletes from various schools and NGOs participated, enabling coaches to apply their classroom learning in a live competition environment. She added that certificates would be presented to all participants.
Special Olympics Nagaland coach Among Aier said the organisation has been working with children with intellectual disabilities since 2009, helping identify and nurture their sporting talents. She explained that athletes are grouped according to their ability rather than age to ensure fair competition and allow coaches to assess their strengths more effectively.
Aier said participation in sports has enabled many athletes to travel outside the state, build friendships and develop confidence and independence. While acknowledging challenges such as adapting to different food habits and accommodation during competitions outside the Northeast, she noted that continuous guidance from coaches and caregivers helps athletes gradually become self-reliant.
Special Olympics Bharat board member and sports expert C. Rajasekhar thanked Nagaland for hosting the event under a special project supported by Lions International. He said the initiative was introduced to provide athletes with intellectual disabilities in the Northeast greater exposure and competitive opportunities.
Describing athletics as the “mother of all games”, Rajasekhar said the selected disciplines were chosen for their accessibility, while bocce allows participation by athletes with varying ability levels. He said the two-year programme would include coach training followed by district, state, regional and national competitions, creating a clear pathway for athletes to compete at higher levels.
Rajasekhar also acknowledged the contributions of parents, schools, teachers, special educators, NGOs, government agencies, sponsors and host institutions, describing parents as the backbone of the Special Olympics movement. He expressed confidence that the initiative would strengthen inclusive sports across the Northeast and help athletes with intellectual disabilities showcase their abilities on national and international platforms.