Supported by the Lions Clubs International and the Aruna Abhey Oswal Trust, a first-ever International Unified Girls Netball Tournament will be held on 1st and 2nd September 2018 at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium Uppalam Puducherry. SO Serendib and two teams from SO Bharat will compete in the triangular series following the double round robin league format.

The Opening Ceremony will be held on 1st September 2018 at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium at 11:00 hrs . Prof. Gurmeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Pondicherry University will preside as Chief Guest at the inaugural function, which will also be graced by the presence of senior representatives of Special Olympics Bharat and Special Olympics Asia Pacific

Date Advertisement	Match 1	Match 2	Match 3
1 September	8 AM SO Bharat vs Serendib	12 Noon Serendib vs SO Bharat B	4:30PM SO Bharat B vs Malaysia
2 September	8 AM Serendib vs SO Bharat B	12 Noon SO Bharat vs Serendib	3 PM SO Bharat B vs SO Bharat

Team SO Bharat includes players from the states of Maharashtra, Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab and Puducherry. The list of the teams is appended

Prior to the Competitions a ‘Train-the-Trainer’ workshop will be held for approx. 50 Coaches from all over India from 29-31 August 2018. Coen Van Putten, Manager Sports, Special Olympics Asia Pacific Region will lead the sessions along with Mr Victor R Vaz – National Sports Director, SO Bharat and Dr. P V Shelvam – Professor, Physical Education Annamalai University. The training will roll out the updated rules and regulations of Special Olympics Unified Netball, creating a specialised Cadre of Coaches to extend superior quality training of the sport all over the country. The trainees will be joined by 60 Athletes, who would be receiving training throughout the duration of the workshop

Unified Sports encourages persons with and without Intellectual disabilities to team up and play. This breaks barriers in as much as targeting common goals and sharing experiences, it is considered a catalyst in promoting inclusion

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Gurmeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Pondicherry University said: “I am extremely happy to be part of the first International Netball tournament. I am also thrilled that it is happening in Pondicherry. I am amazed to see the kind of initiatives that Special Olympics is taking to help improve lives of children with Intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics has my fullest support and I wish the games all success.”

Victor R Vaz National Sport Director SO Bharat said: “Events like these strengthen our endeavours of giving a boost to female participation in sports. It also provides us an opportunity to create a cadre of Coaches in this specific discipline enabling the sport to spread all over the country.”