BHOPAL: The Faculty of Sports Science and Physical Education at Jagran Lakecity University (JLU), Bhopal, in collaboration with Special Olympics Bharat (Madhya Pradesh), is set to organize a prestigious two-day National Symposium on “Inclusive Sports, Unified Sports, Disability Rights, and Adaptive Physical Education” on September 22 and 23, 2026.
The national-level academic and sports gathering, themed “Empowering Accessibility in Sports,” aims to foster an inclusive athletic ecosystem, advance disability rights, and reform adaptive physical education frameworks across educational institutions and sports academies in India.
The grand inauguration ceremony will take place on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the JLU Bhopal campus in hybrid mode. Shri Vishvas Kailash Sarang, Hon’ble Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare, Cooperation, Government of Madhya Pradesh, has been invited as the Chief Guest to grace the occasion.
Highlighting the vision behind the initiative, Dr. HarshVardhan Dave, Head of the Faculty of Sports Science and Physical Education, JLU, stated, “Sports is a universal language that transcends physical and cognitive boundaries. Through this national symposium, our department aims to bridge the gap between academic research, sports science, and grassroots implementation. We are committed to equipping future sports professionals with the knowledge and empathy required to build an barrier-free athletic culture in our country.”
Event Coordinator Mr. Bhoopendra Bhatt emphasized the operational impact and collaborative spirit of the symposium, saying, “This event is not just an academic conference, but a decisive movement toward equal opportunity on the playing field. Bringing together disability rights experts, national sports bodies, and physical educationists under one roof will create actionable roadmaps for adaptive training, specialized coaching, and inclusive sports infrastructure.”
Supported by key institutional stakeholders—including the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (Govt. of MP), Aarambhan Welfare Society, Cerebral Palsy Association of India (CPAI), and Fit 5 Sports Club—the event will bring together eminent sports scientists, physical education academicians, disability rights advocates, coaches, and student-athletes from across the nation.
Speaking on the initiative , Mr. Dipankar Banerjee, Area Director of Special Olympics Bharat (Madhya Pradesh), highlighted that the symposium serves as a crucial platform to address policy frameworks, biomechanical adaptations, and grassroots inclusion for athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities.
The two-day schedule features high-level panel discussions, paper presentations, workshops on adaptive sports equipment, and strategic sessions on building unified sports modules in schools and universities.
