ON YOUR MARK: Children participating in the sack race at the `Orphanage Olympics 2006' organised by Rotary Club Mangalore Central in Mangalore on Sunday. — PHOTO: R Eswarraj

MANGALORE: Olympic motto - "Citius, Altius, Fortius" means "Swifter, Higher, Stronger". Baron de Coubertin, founder of modern summer Olympics borrowed these words from Father Henri Martin Dideon, the headmaster of Arcueil College in Paris. Taking a cue from this motto is the Rotary Club of Mangalore Central, whose "Orphanage Olympics" is growing bigger, better and aiming higher with each passing year.

This Olympics is a unique event where the members in association with Rotaract Club of Mangalore City organise a festival of sports and cultural presentation for and by the residents of orphanages in and around the city. For K. Chandrahas Adyanthaya, president of the club, the Olympics is one event, which all members and office-bearers eagerly await. "We had more than 650 students from eight orphanages in and around the city participating in the event. These children are our guests and care is taken to ensure that they are treated royally", he says.

Meals sponsored

N.G. Vysya Bank sponsored various meals for the participants including lunch making the event all the more special, Mr. Chandrahas says. Local entrepreneurs sponsored refreshments, drinking water for participants and guests alike. The children participated in every event with gusto. If the Amazing Dances Academy presented a scintillating dance show for the participants, the children too displayed their talents in cultural competitions held later on. S.K. Nagendran, District Governor (2007-08), Rotary International District 3180 inaugurated the event.

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