Global Youth Rally
Want to get inspired? Want to hear how other young people are breaking stereotypes and taking part in a global movement of change?
In February 2009 at the Taco Bell Arena, at Boise State University, in Boise, Idaho, thousands of youth with and without intellectual disabilities and another 100,000 via live streaming video, gathered for an inspiring and motivational event that launched a global movement to champion a world of acceptance and welcome for all people.
Celebrity supporters joined a two-hour interactive show around the issues of tolerance and acceptance. The rally is a fast-paced, multi-media event resulting in a call to action for young people relating to Special Olympics and advocating on behalf of respect, dignity and inclusion for all that participants are carrying to their home communities and schools.
The content of the show focuses on three areas:
1. Words Matter – highlighting the R-word campaign and expanding the message globally to demonstrate the power of language to both discriminate and liberate.
2. Share Your Story – featuring content created by youth around the world. (You can still create and share your own story: In Three Words Video, Create an R-word Ad, Write a Be a Fan Song.)
3. Get Involved – inspiring action among youth by asking for commitments.
Get Your School Involved!
- Watch the rally streaming video here and plan for student participation by conducting your own conversations and presentations about acceptance and welcome for all people in classrooms and school assemblies.
- Sign up for our Fan community and submit your own videos, pictures and stories. Join the conversation.
- Publicize Special Olympics events in your school and community by posting event signs and distributing fliers. Start Unified Sports teams and partners Clubs.
- Conduct a Spread the Word to End the Word event in your school or community.
- Sign up for more information by sending an e-mail to youth@specialolympics.org