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Akshay
Kumar runs for a special cause
New
Delhi: Bollywood actor
Akshay Kumar took part in a special torch run organised
here today for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter
Games. The Special Olympics is aimed at empowering specially-abled
individuals to take active part in sports training and
competition.
Ahead
of the Special Olympics World Winter Games scheduled to
be held in Boise, Idaho, USA from February 2 to February
13, 2009, a Global Law Enforcement Torch Run is being
organised in all the host cities. Akshay, who led the
Indian leg of the torch run flagged off by Delhi Chief
Minister Shiela Diksit, said that there is need to encourage
the specially-abled individuals to be part of the mainstream
society. "There are 30 million children who are special.
We are waiting for one million athletes to come in. Please,
come forward and encourage them. They have the right to
lead a normal life like you and me," said Kumar. Akshay,
the brand ambassador of Special Olympics, is now all set
to take the torch to Shanghai in China after going through
the streets of New Delhi's 'Chandni Chowk' area.
When
asked whether he had any security concerns taking part
in such a public relay after the Mumbai attacks, Akshay
said that militancy should not be allowed to overshadow
other aspects of life and that Mumbai is still a safe
city despite the recent attacks that killed at least 179.
"Whatever happened in Mumbai, despite all that, all of
us got back to work. I myself went back to work the very
next day. We don't have to give importance to these terrorists,"
said Akshay. Akshay who was chosen as the brand ambassador
for Special Olympics in 2005 urged the people that militancy
and acts of terror attacks should not be allowed to assume
any importance.
The
2009 Special Olympics will host almost 300 athletes with
intellectual disabilities from more than 100 countries.
The six-day event will see the athletes competing in seven
winter sport events.
-Dec
21, 2008
