As many as 700 differently-abled athletes participating in a National Para-Athletic Championship have been provided stay at a partially constructed building in Ghaziabad, ANI News reported.
Two buildings that were provided as accommodation for the three-day meet are not furnished, does not have functional toilets and drinking water. The athletes were forced to sleep on the floor and go out in the open to defecate.
We are facing difficulty in using washrooms and bathrooms. There is a lack of water; no fans; a lot of mosquitoes, one of the athletes told ANI.
Differently abled athletes participating in a national tournament provided stay at unfurnished building in Ghaziabad pic.twitter.com/9LllCUKAQX
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 22, 2015
Differently abled athletes participating in a national tournament provided stay at unfurnished building in Ghaziabad pic.twitter.com/dyOhmlrQc8
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 22, 2015
GZB: Differently abled athletes participating in national tournament provided stay at non disabled-friendly building pic.twitter.com/DvWQQVI4qh
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 22, 2015
The championship, organised by the Paralympic Committee of India is a qualifier for an international event for para-athletes to be held in the Delhi later this year.
After the report was published, sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal reacted sharply on the incident, tweeted Well-being of all athletes is a priority for us. Differently-abled athletes and their well-being is a priority for us.
He also added We are examining the matter and looking into the reasons for mismanagement of the event… Detailed report has been asked on the organisation of the National Para-Athletic Games from Paralympic Committee of India.
Well-being of all athletes is a priority for us. Differently-abled athletes and their well-being is a priority for us. (1/n) @PIB_India
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) March 22, 2015
We are examining the matter and looking into the reasons for mismanagement of the event. (2/n) @PIB_India
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) March 22, 2015
Detailed report has been asked on the organisation of the National Para-Athletic Games from Paralympic Committee of India (3/n) @PIB_India
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) March 22, 2015
Image Credits: ANI News