Thailand has secured 10 gold medals at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games, which took place in Berlin, Germany, from June 17-25.
20-year-old Thai sprinter Sitthiphon Phisajarn won the first gold for the Kingdom in the men’s 200-meter race on Wednesday (21 June).
The remaining 9 gold medalists included those competing in other athletic events, along with badminton and bocce ball.
A total of 35 Thai athletes competed in this year’s Special Olympics World Games. They consisted of eight Unified Partner athletes and 27 athletes with intellectual impairments, representing 15 different regions of the kingdom. Alongside the athletes were 13 coaches, a doctor and two officials making up part of the squad to support the Thai athletes during the competition.
The Special Olympics World Summer Games is the largest inclusive sporting event for people with intellectual and multiple disabilities worldwide. Its mission is to promote the acceptance and inclusion of those with intellectual disabilities through the power of sports. Additionally, it provides a global platform for them to showcase their athletic abilities.
The competition takes place biennially, alternating between summer and winter editions. The 2023 Special Olympics World Games welcomes over 6,500 athletes from 126 countries competing in 26 sports. Thailand, a regular participant in these games, competed in six sports this year, namely badminton, football, bocce ball, swimming, track running and table tennis. (NNT)
