Special Olympics Bharat-Nagaland hosts Youth Summit 2025

DIMAPUR — The Youth Summit 2025 – Nagaland, organised by Special Olympics Bharat-Nagaland (SON) in collaboration with St. Mary’s Montessori Higher Secondary School (SMMHSS), was held on September 19.

According to an update, the summit celebrated inclusion, leadership, and unity with the participation of special athletes, teachers, parents, and youth leaders.

Wiridin, SDO (Civil), attended the event as chief guest representing the deputy commissioner. He praised the achievements of SON and pledged full support, urging to “humble ourselves to serve those ignored by society.”

From the Special Olympics Bharat (SOB) National Office, resource persons Aditi and Yashika, a youth leader with an intellectual disability, inspired participants through World Games highlights, athlete-led activities, and a roundtable with teachers and parents.

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The summit also democratically elected three athlete leaders, three mentors, and three youth leaders for the upcoming National Youth Innovation Committee (NYIC) and National Athlete Innovation Committee (NAIC) online national training programmes. It was mentioned that the Kohima summit was cancelled due to safety concerns.

SON highlighted that Nagaland’s special athletes have won over 130 medals at national and international games, outperforming mainstream athletes of the state. However, the absence of travel reimbursement post-pandemic has restricted their participation in national championships and programmes, limiting opportunities despite their interest and proven talent.

Expressing gratitude to SMMHSS, the first school in Nagaland to open its doors to children with special needs, SON recalled the milestone of two of its special students representing India from Nagaland at the 2013 Special Olympics Asia-Pacific Games in Australia.

The area director of SON extended gratitude to Dr. Mallika Nadda, president of SOB, resource persons from SOB, participating schools, NGOs, families, and well-wishers whose support and donations made the event a success.

He also acknowledged the SON team that has worked selflessly towards the Special Olympics mission without any honorarium or salary since 2009.