Special Olympics: Pak athletes get a boost
A special ceremony was held at the Bank Al Falah head office on Thursday to extend the best wishes to Pakistan's athletes ahead of the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 in Turin, Italy.
Bank Alfalah partnered with Special Olympics Pakistan (SOP), a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities through year-round sports training and competitions.
The SOP will be sending the athletes to the winter games for the third time. Previously, the country competed in 2013 and 2017.
Ronak Lakhani, Chairperson and Board Member of Special Olympics Pakistan, expressed her enthusiasm for the 10 athletes: "This partnership is a game-changer in our mission to empower athletes with intellectual disabilities across Pakistan. By expanding our reach and creating more opportunities, we are supporting these athletes, breaking barriers, and redefining inclusion in sports. I do not doubt that these 10 extraordinary athletes will make Pakistan proud globally, inspiring countless others with their determination and resilience."
The Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 is a major international sporting event scheduled from March 8 to March 15, 2025, in Turin, Italy, with the motto, "The Future is Here", reflecting its commitment to showcasing the abilities and achievements of athletes with intellectual disabilities, promoting inclusion and unity through sports.
This event will unite over 500 athletes from 102 countries, competing across eight winter sports disciplines. It will include eight disciplines: Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, dance sport, figure skating, floorball, short-track speed skating, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. The athletes from Pakistan will be participating in Alpine Skiing and snowshoeing. Over the period of two years, the bank funded a PKR 9 million training program through this collaboration, benefiting 500 athletes.
This collaboration supports SOP's objectives by engaging over 500 special and mainstream athletes through regular sports programming, organising live-in training camps for selected athletes, and developing a 50-coach and technical staff network.
"Bank Alfalah believes in the power of sports to transform lives and build a more progressive and inclusive society," said Atif Bajwa, President and CEO of Bank Alfalah.
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