Officials from National Sports Council (NSC) and President's Office-Regional Administration and Local Governments (TAMISEMI)- stated so in the National Youth Summit organized by Special Olympics Tanzania (SOT) in Dar es Salaam on Thursday.
Charles Magunzu, an NSC official, and Agnes Mwangila from the ministry said deliberations are underway to include Special Olympics in the schools' games.
Magunzu said there are many talented Special Olympics athletes and the schools' games will be a platform for the athletes to show their potential.
He also said including Special Olympics athletes in the competitions is a sign of affirmative of the government in its inclusive drive.
"As the government, we have programs for Special Olympics athletes, next year we plan to have many courses and seminars for coaches and officials of Special Olympics," Magunzu pointed out.
"We are doing this as we value the joy that Special Olympics athletes have brought to the country, they are one of the sporting groups that have brought many medals to the country," he said.
Agnes shared Magunzu's sentiments and added that the government will build 50 hostels countrywide in schools with special needs students.
The SOT National Youth Summit was held under the theme 'Diversity and Inclusion, Moving from Saying to Doing'.
The topics at the summit included inclusive leadership experience, how to implement effective inclusion within schools and community setup, effective resource mobilization and management in ensuring program sustainability and digitalizing the Special Olympics movement.
Charles Rays, SOT Director, in the past, complained that failure to include Special Olympics athletes in the competitions is a clear indication of segregation.
However, yesterday he confirmed that discussions to include Special Olympics athletes in the two games are going on very well, adding he is hopeful of getting positive results.
He appreciated all summit participants and sponsors for their involvement in the meeting.
Rays also disclosed that preparations for the Special Olympics team's departure to Germany for the Summer Games are going on very well.
He said Tanzania's team is expected to depart on June 12 with a delegation of 31 people to the Summer Games slated for June 17-26 and local athletes will compete in athletics and mixed unified volleyball.
Rays said the team is made up of 22 athletes selected from SOT subprograms/regions which battled it out in the National Special Olympics Games that took place in Mwanza last year.
The athletes will be accompanied by four coaches, three officials, and two team physicians.
This will be the first time that Germany is hosting the World Special Olympics and more than 700 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 170 countries will take part in the showdown.
The Special Olympics World Summer Games are held every four years and are the world’s largest inclusive sports event.
Tanzania has been doing well in Special Olympics Games. The country, for one, collected 11 medals in last year's Pan African Special Olympics Games that took place in Egypt.
The 11 medals were won by Khalfan Jihad, winning two gold medals and one bronze medals, Hidaya Vuai won one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal.
Other athletes, Nerverson Minja and Elizabeth Kisaka won a gold medal and a silver medal apiece, and Salama Kheri ended with one gold medal.
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