KATHMANDU: There could be a lot of discussion on what a visually impaired person can do. Most common answer could be; one may read or write through the brail scripts, come up with some brilliant ideas or schemes and direct people for plans.

Most importantly, the question might get unanswered what a visually impaired can do physically. Nepal have already been active in the blind cricket and there would be another aspect for the visually impaired persons when they run on the Kathmandu streets on Saturday.

In an inspiring event organised by the Nepal Paralympic Committee (NPC), 15 visually impaired athletes are all set to run 3km race. The athletes selected from the 14 districts across the country are given special training by the NPC to participate in the event. Every athlete will be accompanied by a guide runner with strings attached. The race beginning from the Dasharath Stadium will go through Thapathali, Singha Durbar, Bhadrakali and Shahid Gate before culminating at the starting point.

The visually impaired won’t be able to take help from their guide runners as the latter are not supposed to lead the race. “We have trained the participants for a long time and, they, with the help of the guide runners, will travel the distance themselves,” said the NPC President Dipak Koirala.

“We have just made a small initiation to inspire the handicaps marking the 18th International Disabled Day. We are looking forward to give continuity to the event,” added Koirala. The organisers said that the race also aims to create pressure on the government for the rectification of the UN Convention on the protection of the rights of the disabled people.

The United Nations has already approved the convention while the Nepal government is yet to rectify it. The top three finishers in the race will earn Rs 7,000, Rs 6,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively.