PUTRAJAYA, Jan 22 — Malaysia will host the inaugural Special Olympics International (SOI) Unified Football World Cup, November this year.
Special Olympics Malaysia (SOM) president Datuk Muhammad Feisol Hassan said the tournament would be the World Cup version for special Olympics footballers who are intellectually disabled.
“There will be 17 players in a squad, 11 players with intellectual disabilities and six normal footballers, aged between 18 to 25 years old.
“A total of 24 teams from six continents will compete in the tournament and so far 22 teams have qualified including Thailand, Indonesia, Germany, the United States, Japan and Mexico,” he said at the SOI Soft launch event, here today.
Also present at the launch were Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and National Sports Council director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong.
Khairy in his speech expressed hope that the private sector could join together in giving support and sponsor the tournament.
“I hope the private sector could play their roles as part of their corporate social responsibility programme to help the organisers in making the tournament a success.
“This tournament is to enhance awereness of children and adults of intellectual abilities, in line with the SOI, in giving the opportunity to demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in sharing skills and friendship between them,” he said.
According to Muhammad Feisol the tournament, which is estimated to cost about RM20 million, would have its programme schedule in March. — Bernama
