Fatima Omarji

Sports Award

Biography

Hi, I am Fatima Omarji and I live in Leicester. I am 40 years old and I was born with a learning disability which has impacted on my life in many ways. But through sport, and the friends it has given me, I have learnt to master the anger I feel from time to time and make something of my life. I am so grateful to my friend Lee Penfold who 20 years ago introduced me to basketball and Special Olympics which provides sport for people with learning disability. I am now a mum and an grandma so was a great honour (and a surprise) to be selected by Special Olympics to represent Great Britain in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin in June 2023. I missed out four years ago and I thought my chance had gone.

Sadly Sport England do not fund Special Olympians to compete even though they are representing the Country at one of the largest international events in the world with 7000 athletes from 170 countries. It costs over £2500 per athlete so finding the money has been a major worry for me. I am really grateful to Special Olympics GB and Special Olympics East Midlands for their financial support and most recently the JHT for their Inspire Award. Many thanks, it means so much to me.

Finally, thanks to David at Special Olympics East Midland for helping me with this profile and the blogs.

Now off Berlin and with David's help I will keep you posted on how I get on through my blog.