WWE & SO Bharat

February 25, 2014 Mumbai, Maharashtra

State Athletic Meet 500 Athletes along with 120 Coaches and 120 Volunteers

March 12-16, 2014 New Delhi National Athletic Championship 585 Special Athletes and 158 Coaches from 27 states of

With every engagement with the WWE superstars considerable excitement stimulates the Digital, Print, Electronic Media world along with Social Media, awarding visibility to the abilities of Persons with Intellectual disabilities through the support of the global celebrities Timeline WWE

18th September 2014, Mumbai WWE Celebrity Football Tournament SO Bharat Goa vs.SO Bharat Maharashtra, refreed by Bad News Barret, WWE Wrestler. Match concluded at 4-2 in favour of Goa Meeting with Carl Sequeira, WWE April 29, 2014, Delhi Carl visited the National Office, Delhi on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 to explore opportunities of collaborating with SO Bharat. He discussed possibility to support the Indian contingent, for the SO WSG LA 2015, with Sports kit.

July 2015

WWE announced its partnership with Bharat for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games. The announcement was made in Mumbai by Victor R. Vaz, National Sports Director, Special Olympics Bharat and Rukn Kizilbash, General Manager, WWE India. The sports kit sponsored by WWE was unveiled in the

presence of a few Athletes and honoured guests

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Timeline WWE

On 29 July the Indian delegation enjoyed a photo session with WWE stars and at the entertainment City , Alumni Park, University of Southern California

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Timeline WWE

August 28, 2015 Athletes spent an exciting session with , WWE star who engaged individually with all the SO Bharat Athletes. The Athletes enjoyed a friendly session with him with each getting a chance to speak with him. Air Marshal Keelor was presented an autographed WWE

Championship belt by the star who also gave each Athlete his autographed photo.

June 27, 2016 Special Olympics and WWE announce international partnership to help create change through sports. Through this new partnership, WWE will support Special Olympics’ Play Unified campaign, which fosters friendships, understanding, and inclusive communities among people with and without intellectual disabilities by uniting them through the power and joy of sports. WWE Superstars would participate in Play Unified events with Special Olympics athletes from the US, China, the United Kingdom, , India and

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Timeline WWE

9 July, 2016 plays Cricket with Athletes in Bangalore at St. Joseph’s College of Commerce, followed by a photo op and autograph.

20 October, 2016 10 athletes and 2 Coaches enjoyed a photop with at ITC Rajputana, Jaipur. The 45 minute long program had the Athletes interact individually with the Wrestler as well. Each took his signed pos ter with themselves

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Timeline WWE

22 October, 2016 Sheamus refereed a Unified football 7-a-side friendly match in Mumbai. The event

was conducted at the Astro Park, Lower Parel. There were 8 Athletes, 6 partners and 4 Coaches who participated at the event.

10 May, 2017 :The Former Champions and the host of this year’s Wrestle Mania 33, were in Mumbai in May. They upheld achievements of the Maharashtra Special Athletes who were players of the floor ball and floor hockey teams which returned with gold medals won at the 2017 Austria Games. Apart from interacting with the superstars the Athletes were presented with medals and special souvenir WWE belts to carry back home and cherish the moments of this very unique experience

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Timeline WWE

15 October, 2017 The WWE Superstar engaged with 40 Athletes, Youth leaders and family members as Dr Tim Shriver, Chairman Special Olympics International arrived in India the same day. Interacting with each and every Athlete present at the venue he expressed his immense appreciation and recognition of the Special Olympics movement to the global chairman. While the Superstar presented Dr Tim Shriver with a belt, he was gifted with the Red Play Unified Ball along with the message which it symbolizes

7 December, 2017 The WWE Superstars Jinder Mahal and Singh Bros played Cricket with 10 Athletes at the Hotel Shangri la New Delhi on 7 December 2017. WWE had arrived in india for a live performance held on 9 December 2017 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium New Delhi. Taking every opportunity to demonstrate Inclusion through sports the superstars chose to play Unified Cricket with the athletes through a friendly innings, followed by group photos and Media interaction.

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Timeline WWE

WWE Superstar, visited Mumbai & Hyderabad engaging with approx 40 Athletes, youth leaders and Family members in each of the cities

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Timeline WWE

5 December , 2018 The WWE Superstar engaged in a friendly round of Unified 5-a-side football in Mumbai

7 December , 2018

The WWE Superstar Matt Hardy at Chennai- Meet and Greet

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Timeline WWE

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/i-see-a-lot-of-passion-for-wrestling-among- indians-matt-hardy/articleshow/67012136.cms

In A Nutshell

WWE Superstar/Event Date City/State Description Maharashtra State Feb 2014 Mumbai Supported Event Athletic Meet Feb 2014 Delhi Interaction & Photo op National Athletic March 2014 Delhi Supported Event Championship Bad News Barret September Mumbai Refereed football between SO Bharat 2014 Maharashtra and Goa Press Conference July 2015 Mumbai Unveil WWE kits presented to the SO Bharat contingent - LA Games 2015 Eva Marie & William July 2015 USC, LA, USA Photo op @ the LA Games 2015 Regal Venue Mark Henry August 2015 New Delhi Autograph and Photo Op Alberto Del Rio July 2016 Bangalore Cricket with Athletes ; photo op Karnataka Sheamus October Jaipur Autograph and Photo Op 2016 Rajasthan Mumbai Refereed a Unified Football Match Maharashtra Tag Team Champions May 2017 Mumbai Interaction, Photo Op & Souvenir belt Maharashtra Jinder Mahal October New Delhi Interaction & Photo-op with Dr 2017 Shriver, Athletes Coaches and Families Jinder Mahal & Singh December New Delhi Cricket with Athletes Bros 2017 Braun Strowman July 2018 Mumbai & Meet & Greet at both venues Hyderabad Matt Hardy December Mumbai and Football & meet & Greet at Mumbai; 2018 Chennai Meet & Greet Chennai

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