RIPPLES Chennai 2012 -Event summary
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The 12th National Paralympic swimming & Water Polo Championship was hosted by our Paralympic Swimming Association of Tamilnadu (PSATN) from 6-9 December 2012 under the aegis of Paralympic Swimming Federation of India and in collaboration with Sports Devpt Authority of Tamilnadu . We christened it Ripples Chennai 2012. The event had an overwhelming response from all over India. 334 differently abled participants from 18 states stretching from Jammu & Kashmir to Karnataka and Goa took part in this National Championship. They were accompanied by around 130 escorts.
The success of any mega event like this depends on the support and help we muster from the generous organisations and philanthropists who have faith and belief in the commitment of the organisers.
We started the PSATN to propagate the importance of swimming in the lives of differently abled people. It is really a great challenge for our newly formed organization. Before paying our tributes to all our supporters who stood behind us like a rock, let us present the full details of this National event.
There were 144 different events incorporating different strokes of swimming from free style, breast stroke, butterfly and back stroke to name a few. The participants were all classified technically based on the availability of their muscle functions as S1 – S5 Locomotion impaired – physical impairment as Polio, Amputation, Cerebral palsy, etc. S11 - Visually impaired (partially and fully). SD – Down Syndrome.
The event was conducted for 4 days from 6th to 9th Dec 2012. On 6th Dec we received the participants from Chennai Central Railway Station and accommodated them at IIT, Madras. After finishing the classification of the participants by the officials of Paralympic Swimming Federation of India (PSFI) we took them to SDAT Aquatic Complex in the evening for practice session. 7th and 8th witnessed all of the 144 swimming events and the event came to a close with Water polo finals on 9th Dec 2012.Various gold, silver and bronze medals were given with individual championships under the categories of S1 – S5, S 11, SD. The individual championships were given for Men and Women under all age groups viz. Sub Junior, Junior and senior. The total number of individual championships given was 35 in number.
The winners of the Water polo championships were West Bengal for Gold followed by Maharashtra for Silver and Karnataka for Bronze.
The overall team championships were bagged by West Bengal with 725 points followed by Maharashtra with 424 points and Karnataka with 226 points.
Karnataka has taken the honour of hosting the 13th National Paralympic swimming championship at Bangalore in 2013.
The 12th National Paralympic swimming & Water Polo Championship was inaugurated by the Worshipful Mayor of Chennai Thiru.Saidai.Sa.Duraisamy in the august presence of Thiru.Senthamizhan M.L.A Saidapet constituency, Mr V K Jeyakodi IAS, State Commissioner for the Differently Abled and various other dignitaries.
7th December had a great cultural evening hosted by the sweet children of the Down syndrome association of Tamilnadu. It was an energizing moment to witness children performing in an organized fashion to various tunes. Special thanks to Mrs.Sandhya for her guidance in this regard.
Our wholehearted thanks to the management of Saint Louis Institute for the Deaf and Blind School and to their visually challenged students for giving a grand musical performance on 9th Dec.’12 morning which had won wide applause from the audience.
Thanks to Radio city, our media partner for their untiring broadcast and to all other Print and Electronic Media friends who covered the event.
The event was declared closed by The Honorable Minister for Sales and commercial tax Thiru.Ramana in the august presence of ever friendly and affectionate Thiru.J.C.D.Prabhakar M.L.A, Villivakkam constituency at the end of the valedictory function on 9th Dec.’12. It was a great honor for all the participants to receive the championships from the chief guests.
All this would have not been possible without the sponsorships of great souls in the form of money, food, transport, Manpower etc.
We thank the government of Tamilnadu for all their timely help. The Stadium Officer Mr Thamilselvan and staff of SDAT Aquatic Complex have wholeheartedly extended their support for smooth conduct of the event. We thank Mr.S.Govindasamy, Chennai Central railway Station Manager for his tremendous support which helped us in receiving the participants from their respective trains.
No words to describe the social responsibility of Scope international Pvt Ltd who supported the event by providing 1200 volunteers who played a vital role in transporting the participants ,receiving them, taking care of them at every point which resulted in lot of emotional expressions from the participants. The way in which the dining was programmed by them needs special mention too. Hats off to them.PSATN extends its heartfelt thanks for all the support from Scope Int’l Pvt Ltd.
We are greatly indebted to our Chief Patron Mr.K.Narsa Reddy, Chairman Kences Constructions Pvt Ltd for his valuable guidance from the beginning. He has not only borne the entire cost of accommodation and food at IIT, Madras but also sponsored snacks, energy drink and bananas for all the participants at frequent intervals to keep up their energy levels.
Our special thanks for Oriental cuisines Pvt Ltd for sponsoring delicious food (Lunch) on all 4 days for everyone present in the event. They have also provided a special dinner on 7th Dec 2012.
Our heartfelt thanks for everyone at IIT Madras for the invaluable support of providing a safe, serene, hygienic accommodation which is very much supportive to the needs of the physically challenged people.
Thanks to Sri sugam physiotherapy Institute Pvt Ltd for the volunteering work extended by their physiotherapists.
We are very much thankful to Sriram Foundation for providing high quality medals and trophies.
We thank all the State Coordinators, their officials, coaches, all the participants and their escorts for their excellent cooperation in conducting this event in a smooth manner.
We express our heartfelt thanks to the following organizations and individuals for their wholehearted support for the success of our event:
- The management of Sri Ramachandra Hospitals for providing ambulance services with emergency medical technicians.
- 108 emergency services
- Dr Moses and Dr Prabhakar for their medical support
- Fire Services Dept, Govt of Tamilnadu
- Railway Protection Force officials
- Police Dept of Tamilnadu State Govt
- Differently Abled Welfare Dept of Tamilnadu State Govt
- Pudhu Vazhvu Project officials, Rural Devpt Dept of TN Govt for encouraging the differently abled swimmers of rural areas in Tamilnadu to participate in this national event
- School Education and Higher Education Authorities
- NCC Officials for their support in maintaining orderliness at pool area
- Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd for providing T-shirts and caps
- NIEPMD
- All our other esteemed sponsorers and supporters
We, the members of the Paralympic swimming association of Tamilnadu by order on behalf of our Chief Patron Mr.K.Narsa Reddy, Chairman Kences Constructions Pvt Ltd, President Dr. (Mrs)K Rema Devi, Rtd. Sr Scientist, ZSI, Vice president Mrs.Uthira ramachandran, Socialite, General Secretary Ms. P.Madhavi Latha, Associate Vice President, Scope International, Joint Secretary P.Sai Krishnan Sr.Executive – HCL info systems, Treasurer Ms Preetha Ananda Jothi , Managing Director, Sri Sugam physiotherapy Institute Pvt Ltd, Medical Director, DR. Leonard Ponraj, Sr. Sports Medicine Specialist, Technical Director – Dr.C.Ananda Jothi, Director - Sri Sugam physiotherapy Institute Pvt Ltd, Committee Member – Mr.P.P.S.Raju, Retd Teacher take this as our responsibility to thank one and all for supporting us in making Ripples Chennai 2012 a grand success.
Ripples Chennai 2012 is a dream come true of everyone at PSATN.
