New Delhi, March 13 (IANS): Special Olympics Bharat, in partnership with WWE and NDMC, Thursday kicked off the National Athletics Championship at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Participating in the three-day event March 13-15 are around 650 athletes, 150 coaches and 150 volunteers from 26 states.

The opening ceremony took place with NDMC chairman Jalaj Srivastava as the chief guest.

Prior to the ceremony, a Torch run was organised from the NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Council) head office at Sansad Marg to the Central Park in Connaught Place with Jalaj Srivastava addressing the participants.

All guests at the opening ceremony were welcomed by Kartikay Saini, chairman Scottish High International School and Advisory Trustee Special Olympics Bharat.

Assistant coaches Sanjay Seth and Patrick (both with mild intellectual disabilities) took the Special Olympics Athlete’s Oath: "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

A cultural programme performed by groups of children with and without disabilities was followed by a Taekwondo demo-cum-interactive session, led by Grandmaster Lee. During the rest of the day, preliminary round assessment of athletes in various track and field events was conducted.