Mary Kom, the London Olympic bronze medallist, took part in the playgrounds-for-children rally on the occasion of the National Sports Day here on Wednesday. Mother of twin boys, Mary Kom was joined by celebrity mothers like Mandira Bedi, Mitali Kakar, Rajeshwari Badola, Mansi Roy and Suchitra Pillai.
Promoted by Procter & Gamble which is committed to build and support 40 playgrounds, Mary Kom campaigned for open spaces and playgrounds across the country. The company is part of the Olympic movement and has agreed to sponsor the Olympic Games (summer and winter) till 2020.
“In a healthy body lies a healthy mind and I totally understand the importance of outdoor activities and the significance of playgrounds as I have lived a life committed to sports. I come from a land where there are ample spaces for the children to play but when I travel the length and breadth of the country, it is disheartening to see that there are not enough open spaces for children to play and therefore they end up playing virtual games online. I have pledged to promote the cause of sports in the country by building a boxing academy and I am hopeful that through this campaign more people will now be aware of the fact that the wellbeing of our children lies just as much as in studies as in sports activities,’’ said Mary Kom.
