Grameenphone, in partnership with Special Olympics Bangladesh, is organising a regional talent hunt for intellectually-challenged athletes. This was announced at a press briefing at the Grameenphone Head Office yesterday.

The objective of the talent hunt is to form a 'national talent pool’ of intellectually-challenged athletes and to empower them by nurturing and nourishing their sporting capabilities. Once finalised, the national talent pool will be further groomed, nurtured and prepared for the next Special Olympics, the largest sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, in 2011.

The first regional talent hunt starts with Rajshahi division at the Rajshahi Physical TYaining College from November 19-23. Athletes from nine special schools, covering Rajshahi, Bogra, Pabna, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Gaibandha. Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Panchagar, Nilphamari, Joypurhat, Naogaon. Chapainawabganj, Natore and Sirajganj districts, will be participating. Subsequently the talent hunt will be extended to other divisions as well.

It is expected that 150 boys and 50 girls will be participating in the talent hunt in Rajshahi under the guidance of specially trained coaches from Special Olympics Bangladesh. Simultaneously, 50 coaches are currently undergoing a 6-day special training session by both local and international Instructors at BKSP.

Syed Yamin Bakht, Director Public Relations Division Grameenphone, Shuvashish Priya Barua Head of CSR Grameenphone, Ashraf-ud Dowla, Founder Chairman Special Olympics Bangladesh and Shamim Matin Chowdhury, Chairman Special Olympics Bangladesh were present at the press briefing.