Braving the rain, over 400 inline skaters from the city turned up at K.J. Somaiya Institute’s skating rink in Sion to participate in a unique global skating relay on Saturday. The goal of 24 Skate for UNICEF was to build a global net of skaters who would take part in such a way that someone was skating somewhere in the world the entire 24 hours without a break.
The relay, which is an annual global event to raise funds for the welfare of children, was kicked off in Germany on Saturday afternoon. Mumbai and Pune joined in the relay from 5.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. and the baton was passed on to China. Countries that took part in the event included Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain and Switzerland. Participants in the city included five-year-old children, members of NGOs, recreational and professional skaters.
Aazaz Khan, co-organiser and director of Somaiya Sports Academy, said, “This event encourages students to engage in any kind of sport they are passionate about and it raises funds which will be invested for a social cause. It will be a way to give back to society.”
Khushi Shah, India’s third fastest skater, said, “I have been skating since I was three years old. Initially, we had to practise on the roads in Bandra-Kurla Complex and the traffic posed a challenge to us. As a skater it gives me immense happiness now that we finally have a place where we can practice smoothly, without interruptions. Being part of such initiatives not only promotes thesport but also helps in making this world a better place for every human being.”
Arjun Nichani, architect and designer for Bangladesh’s first-ever international roller sports stadium, said, “I love being a part of such an affair. It provides us skaters with a calm and peaceful environment to showcase our skills effectively. It also gives us exposure to a larger audience.”
Ajay Shivlani, the founder of The Skate Academy that organised the city leg of the event, said, “It is overwhelming to see the response we have been receiving. Any kind of sport is good for physical and mental well-being. We are happy to contribute to the welfare of the community through this initiative.”