Games for disabled opened

SURABAYA: Despite their physical and mental disabilities, 240 students of schools for the disabled and rehabilitation centers turned up on Monday for the National Games and Arts for the disabled.

The students will be competing against each other in academic, arts and sporting fields during the event, which will conclude on Thursday.

Blind students will compete in the social sciences, deaf students will compete in sign language and students with other physical disabilities will take part in a math competition.

The sports and arts segment will feature a singing contest for the blind, table tennis for the deaf, 100-meter sprint and painting contest for mentally retarded students and poetry reading for students with physical disabilities.

An exhibition of the art works of the students will also held during the event.

Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fadjar opened the event in a ceremony organized by the students. Rizki W of the Semolowaru rehabilitation center led the ceremony, while deaf student Rizki Noorilawati read out the students' pledge written in Braille. -- Antara