Cooperation with UNICEF continues in Kazakhstan

From October 8-9, 2009 UNICEF and Special Olympics Kazakhstan jointly organized an athletics tournament for 200 Special Olympics athletes from eight regions in Ust-Kamenogorsk, located in eastern Kazakhstan. At the same time, a FunFitness screening was organized and all Special Olympics athletes were screened. The event was held as part of a national celebration dedicated to people with disabilities. It was also held as part of the partnership between UNICEF and Special Olympics Kazakhstan.

Student volunteers from the National Medical University and Medical College in Ust-Kamenogorsk helped with the FunFitness screening.

During the tournament, Olga Bakareva, National Director, Special Olympics Kazakhstan, met with UNICEF Kazakhstan Representative Hanaa Singer, to discus plans for 2010, including the possibility of developing Young Athletes™ and SO Get Into It®. Singer said during the discussions: “I am delighted with this our cooperation with Special Olympics Kazakhstan and I look forward to expanding our partnership.”

Young Athletes is a Special Olympics initiative that introduces children with intellectual disabilities between the ages of 2 and 7 to the world of sports.  SO Get Into It was developed by Special Olympics to teach children in mainstream schools to understand, accept and celebrate human differences.

Earlier, on October 6-7, Special Olympics Kazakhstan together with UNICEF organized an athletics tournament and a Special Smiles screening in Semipalatinsk, also in eastern Kazakhstan.  Two hundred Special Olympics athletes took part in the competitions and the screening.  Dental students from the National University in Semei, in northeast Kazakhstan, volunteered to assist with the screening.
 

Photo:  Special Olympics athletes are screened during a Special Smiles screening that was organized in partnership with UNICEF.  Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Kazakhstan