Reflecting the unfailing moral courage and insatiable aptitude for multifarious athletic skills, these differently able Army War Heroes of our times beginning from today would display the cream of their athletic talents until September 18 to claim for supremacy in respective events at Diyagama Mahinda Rajapakse Stadium, the Army Media reported.
The lighting of the Olympic Torch symbolized traditions and reading of the oath of the players and the oath of judges respectively, set the stage ready for commencement of athletic events.
The Commander also took time off to congratulate the representatives who had come from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nepal to show their fellowship with Sri Lankan counterparts and exchanged a couple of thoughts with them.
Lieutenant General Chrishanthe De Silva in his brief address to the inaugural occasion highly appreciated the great efforts of the Army Para Games Committee for organizing this year’s Para Games in an impressive manner. He also congratulated Army Para athletes for making their organization proud and recognized both at local and international levels.
Before today’s finals, those differently able athletes in the two-month long tournament vied for supremacy in their respective Regimental Headquarters premises amid huge enthusiasm and excitement.
Previously known as the ‘Army Disable Sports Meet’, it saw its birth in the year 1991, but was renamed and re-designed in 2010, to be called the ‘Sri Lanka Army Para Games’ particularly with the increased numbers of affected soldiers during fierce battles.
Similarly, several Army Para athletes participating in Asian tournaments succeeded in securing many medals to the Army. In addition, Sri Lanka Army sportsmen are expected to participate in Para Olympics Games in South Korea.