Specials Olympics football finals today

National

By HENRY MORABANG
THE finals of the Special Olympic five-a-side unified football competition takes place today at the Rita Flynn Complex.
SOPNG coach Willie Vaira said teams that took part include Cheshire DisAbility Services, Callan Special Education Centre (Gerehu), Red Cross Special School (Hohola), Hohola Demonstration Primary School, Wardstrip Primary School, SO Gabagaba Team 1, SO Gabagaba Team 2 and SOPNG.
He said that the first game at 9.30am will see Red Cross Special School and Gabagaba 1 play for third and fourth-placing.
The second game at 10am will be between Cheshire Disability Services and Hohola Demonstration Primary School for first and second spot.
The unified competition is a first of its kind conducted by Special Olympics PNG to create awareness among young people to socialise and play with those with intellectual disabilities.
“This competition is changing sports for people with disabilities and I have so many parents contacting us to include their children,” Vaira said.
Sophie Tuna, the national programme coordinator, said the SOPNG executives decided to conduct the unified football finals today to coincide with the Global Hand Washing Day at the Rita Flynn Indoor Netball Courts, starting at 9am and finishing at 11am.
“We have invited Lynda Babao O’Neill to be the guest speaker, Peter Tsamalili Jr to officially kick start the event and Lua Rikis, captain of PNG Pepes, to deliver a special message on the importance of washing our hands with soap.”
The 10-team unified football competition started in May and will end today.