A good response has been received by the Fiji Paralympic committee organising a major sport event for people living with disabilities in the Northern Division.
Sporting ambassadors Linda Panapasa and Iliesa Delana, who are visiting the people in the north, said a lot of people with disabilities in villages have submitted their names to take part in the games that would most probably be held at Labasa's Subraila Park.
Panapasa said most were not aware of the sporting body and the July event would give them opportunities to show off their hidden talent. She added that most expressed interest of developing their sporting talent to represent the nation.
Panapasa and Delana are expected to visit about 20 villages in the three provinces of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata. Last week, the committee's sports development officer Saimoni Nainoca was in the division holding discussion with government officials about the proposed event. Nainoca had said that the only people involved in sporting activities in the north over past years were the two special schools of Labasa and Savusavu.
"This bigger sporting event will involve people with disabilities living in rural areas who have not been part of the activities and will expose their hidden talent.
"We want to give them opportunities to take part in activities such as sports and other activities in the community.
"These people with disabilities living in villages have always been forgotten so getting them to be part of big sporting events will also open their eyes to other activities available that they can be a part of," Nainoca said. He said the meetings with government officials in Labasa and Savusavu this week had been successful.
"I have received positive response and we plan to have our first big event in July this year where the provinces of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata will be involved."
