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| Sunday, 6 March 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Benefits of adventure sports
From trekking to mountaineering, white water rafting to snorkeling, scuba diving to paragliding, the choice is unlimited, and the opportunities endless. All you need is the desire to take part in adventure sports. The most significant thing is that there are so many advantages in adventure sports. Adventure sports helps one in adapting to real-life situations and includes a competitive work environment. The focus is on team building and strong interpersonal relationships, which have a direct bearing on productivity. In adventure sports, whilst dealing with the difficulty of equipment and techniques, you will also get in touch with your inner core. This will enable participants to boost self confidence, personal responsibility, fitness and teamwork. But how does this happen? The inspired participants are provided a series of progressively challenging situations and opportunities. Through achievement, participants discover that they possess far more inner strength than they knew. Adventure sports empowers you with the confidence, tenacity and skills necessary to deal with the ups and downs in life. The outdoor activity comprises situations where the participants must work either on their own, or in a group. The team building games are fun, as well as useful, geared to introduce participants to a world where trust is an important factor. Do you know how adventure sports came to be introduced in schools in Britain? The story goes that many of the young men recruited to increase the British fighting force perished on the field, as they lacked the experience of teamwork, of tackling a crisis in real life. That was when the authorities realised how adventure sports and outdoor activity could promote teamwork. And so they were introduced in schools and colleges. Since then adventure sports in schools and colleges have not looked back. As adventure sports involve a lot of outdoor activity, most often participants have to attend camps organised for this purpose. Although we love to grasp the experience of adventure sports, we do not want to get hurt or meet with any accidents. Isn't it so? Just like we find the time and the spirit to enjoy adventure sports, getting prepared for the experience is also essential. Taking time to assemble a camping kit is one of the first priorities. The kit should be made to fit into a small compact "belt pack" that you can wear at all times, and not encumber your movement or enjoyment of the outdoors. The following is a list of contents you could have inside your camping kit. Water bottle: The easily accessible bottle should always be kept filled with your choice of water, juice drinks or other liquid nourishment. It is important that you should drink only when you are thirsty. Liquid intake is important in all outdoor adventures, and helps provide a sense of security and well-being. Lightstick: This bright light source is both a sense of personal security as well as a way to help locate campers after dark. Darkness can be an uncomfortable situation, and a light source that can be held close or hung from a tree will provide a sense of assurance to a camper who is waiting for you to come and find him/her. Rescue whistle: Blowing a whistle requires little energy and is highly audible in the outdoors. A whistle can be heard over long distances and is an easy signalling device for a camper to use. Remembering to blow in blasts of three in a row every few minutes, or every time they see or hear something, can also help a camper focus on a positive task. This is not a toy, but a very valuable signalling device. Signal mirror: A small and lightweight plastic highly reflective mirror can be used to attract attention during the day. Reflected light can be seen at great distances in the outdoors, a plus for rescuers, in case you get lost. It, like all the other special components of the kit, helps to focus the attention of the camper into a positive task. Personal care items: The kit should contain a small packet of tissues for personal hygiene use. Also include some small bandages and handy plaster to help provide a means to cover minor cuts and abrasions. Consider including some damp towels to clean up and refresh. Don't forget to include high energy food bars, snack items, a personal ID card or any other personal item or items. It is always best to be prepared for any emergency situation or accident when you go camping to participate in any adventure sports, either from school or with family and friends. ############### Special Olympics World Winter Games 2005
Nagano is the first city in Asia to ever host a Special Olympics world event. The theme of this year's games was "Let's Celebrate Together." It expresses the skill, courage and joy that all athletes share, regardless of nationality, gender, age, race or religion. Opening ceremonies kicked off the games on February 26, and competitions concluded on March 5. More than 2,000 athletes from 80 countries participated in seven official sports: alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, speed skating, figure skating and floor hockey. The Special Olympics were founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy. In the early 1960s, she started a day camp for people with mental disabilities and recognized that they were far more capable in sports than many thought. In 1968, she organized the first International Special Olympics Games at Chicago's Soldier Field. Now the games are held every two years. The Special Olympics oath is, "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." |
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| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
As children we all love adventure. There is no doubt that at least once
in our lifetime we have wished to be a part of such adventure. But do not
worry, it is no longer a dream. Adventure sports and camping have become
the newest attraction in the country. 
On February 15, a ceremony was held in Athens, Greece, to light the
official flame of the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Later that
day, the flame was on a special flight to Nagano, Japan, where the games
took place. 
