HC notice to Centre, TN on plea to treat all sportspersons equally

The Madras High Court has said it is "disheartening" to note that state governments are interested only in encouraging cricketers and are ignoring other games.

The observation came on a plea seeking a direction to authorities to treat sportspersons, especially intellectually disabled in Asia Pacific Special Olympics Games, on par with those participating in the Olympic Games and to extend all benefits to them.

When the petition came up Tuesday, a division bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and S S Sundar issued notice to the Centre and state government asking them to respond by April 24.

The bench in its order said, "It is very easy for a normal person to achieve in the Olympics, whereas disabled persons, especially intellectually disabled like children of the petitioners, taking part in the Olympics and achieving something is very difficult."

"Such persons cannot be compared with the normal people and even they should be given more awards... Therefore, the Central and state governments .