The children have been sent by 20 organisations, governmental and non governmental. The event will begin with the lighting of a torch followed by a march past that will have a slow beat to enable the disabled to keep step with the rest. The other events the children will participate in are the banana race, three-legged race, letter box race, archery, relay race, followed on Friday morning by a unique basket ball match played on wheel chairs.

The event, being held at the Yamuna Sports Complex, is being organised by the Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust, whose schools in Delhi and Gwalior have equal numbers of able-bodied and disabled children and will be inaugurated by Minister for Human Resources Development Murli Manohar Joshi. Amar Jyoti chief patron Shashi Kapoor will be the guest of honour. According to Uma Tuli, managing secretary of Amar Jyoti: ``These children are totally free of consciousness about the physical differences between them and make you wonder who is handicapped -- them or us.''

Jhuma Guchait is among the 9 disabled children (or differently abled as a volunteer described them) from the Rehabilitation Centre for Children, Calcutta. Jhuma had two operations on her leg in two years and she will have her third one soon. Meanwhile she attends classes at RCFC and will run the three legged race at the sports meet.

According to Pip Higman, the chief coordinator of the games, the preparations started in June and she has been interacting with various participating NGOs from different parts of the country for the event. Higman, an occupational therapist, says she has never seen 50 per cent integration in any part of the world as is being showcased in this event. The event, being held for the fourth time, is being co-sponsored by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Lions Club, Coca Cola, Actionaid and Seagram.