Bangalore, Dec 2 (Inditop.com) Physcially challenged sportspersons who took part in an international meet here are going back with bitter memories of dirty stadiums, cramped toilets, lack of ramps and poor coordination.
“We expected better facilities for players at an international meet. Players faced lot of trouble as basic things like ramps are not in place at the stadium, nor are there clean and spacious toilets for them,” German team physio Uli Niepotch told reporters late Tuesday.
This was the common complaint of sportspersons and coaches from day one of the eight-day International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) World Games that ended at Shree Kanteerava Stadium here Tuesday. The games were flagged off Nov 24.
“Hardly any sporting events started on time, neither the closing ceremony today (Tuesday). Players were left in the lurch waiting for events to get started. It has caused players lot of trouble,” added Niepotch.
Many of the upset players and coaches skipped the closing ceremony.
“The closing function was supposed to start at 4 p.m. But it began more than an hour later,” said a player from the Indian squad.
“The event was no way international. Players were treated shabbily as there were no facilities like ramps. It seemed the organisers had not prepared well to handle so many players with special needs,” said Nirmal Singh (24), a wheelchair rugby player.
The event was organised by IWAS in association with Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and 604 athletes from 43 countries took part in 11 disciplines: athletics, archery, sitting volleyball, table tennis, wheelchair rugby, badminton, golf, power lifting, wheelchair fencing, shooting and swimming.
China topped the medals tally with 47 gold, 18 silver and six bronze. Indian players’ impressive show helped them come second with a tally of 32 gold,38 silver and 40 bronze medals. Thailand stood third winning 26 gold, 18 silver and 17 bronze medals.
rounak