The Special Olympics Jharkhand has issued an advisory to parents of intellectually impaired athletes to allow their wards to participate in outdoor activities, as the Covid-induced lockdown has prevented them from doing so.

In view of the pandemic, the athletes have been sitting idle as the Special Olympics Jharkhand has not resumed its training programme. Outdoor activities including cycling, walking and running would keep the athletes tuned and better prepared when the training programme resumes, they said.

“We have issued the advisory keeping in mind next year’s state and national competitions. We don’t want our athletes to be slack when we resume our training programmes. A bit of physical activity outside their homes will somewhat keep the boys and girls in shape before training.” said Special Olumpics Jharkhand assistant area director Satbir Singh Sahota.

He said that most parents are unwilling to allow their children for outdoor activities amid the pandemic.

“We have explained to them about the importance of outdoor activities and how it would help their children tune up before the training programmes. Some parents have started respecting our advisory,” Sahota added.

Several special athletes from Jharkhand, mostly in Jamshedpur, have won medals at national and international competitions. This was possible largely due to training programmes of the Special Olympics Jharkhand which prepares the athletes for national selection camps.

“Another reason for issuing the advisory was to continue the trend of medal-winning exploits of our athletes. We are glad that some of the parents have started allowing their wards to go out for physical activities. We are hopeful that competitions will resume sometime in April next year,” Sahota said.

The likes of Priyanshu Kumar, who represented the country’s cycling squad in the Special Olympics International World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi last year, V. Indu Prakash, who was part of the national side for Special Olympics Asia Pacific Cricket Championship in Bangalore earlier this year, and Sayan Mandal, who donned Jharkhand jerseys in the national roller skating championship in Hyderabad in 2018, have started outdoor activities.

The Special Olympics Jharkhand has also asked for the opinion of coaches and parents about when to resume training programmes.