17th annual Orphanage Olympics held in Mangaluru

It was a special and eventful day for 600 enthusiastic children from 10 orphanage schools of Dakshina Kannada district.

Rotary Club of Mangalore Central, jointly with Rotaract Club of Mangalore City, organised the 17th annual Orphanage Olympics for the inmates of different orphanages at Canara High School grounds at Urwa on Sunday.

The participating children freely mingled, played and danced with other orphanage school children. The programme provided a platform to showcase their talents, and skills in the field of sports and cultural activities. The competitions included sack race, book balance, frog jump, balancing lemon with a spoon ­and running races.
 
MLA J R Lobo, in his inaugural address, called upon the children to utilise the opportunity provided by the society and participate actively by displaying hidden talents and skills to achieve success in their future. The Rotary Club has responded to the needs of the orphanage children by providing a platform and equal opportunity to eliminate social inequality, he said.

He also lauded the selfless service of Rotarians rendered to community development and recalled the club’s substantial financial contribution of Rs 18 lakh towards setting up of a planetarium at Pilikula in 1998.

Assistant Governor Zone IV K R Kamath was the guest of honour.  

Chairman of the organising committee Dr Devdas Rai said orphanage Olympics is the club’s prestigious community service project with an objective to bring a smile on the faces of the children.