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Stig Martin Sandvik, Special Olympics Norway athlete, coach and Global Messenger. |
At a recent meeting of the Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Leadership Council (EELC) Stig Martin Sandvik, a football (soccer) player and assistant coach from Special Olympics Norway was chosen for a two year (2004-2006) term as a Global Messenger, athletes who act as spokespeople for Special Olympics Programs around the world.
“Before I had no friends, I only had my family. Now I have friends; I have a girlfriend. I have a big family, a lot of people to support me and encourage me. I can be myself! I am not afraid to show anyone who I am.
“Before, I had no self confidence, I was playing on a team and they told me: ‘go home; you cannot play; we do not want you on our team.’ Playing football has helped me build my self confidence. Assistant coaching has helped me develop as a team leader, and that gives me a lot of confidence too.
“People now accept me. My family is important for me. They have always backed me up. Now, my friends back me up. My strong point as assistant coach is to motivate people and help other athletes gain confidence.
“Now I want more athletes to experience the same. I want to use my own situation to teach them self confidence. I want them to feel happy inside and feel secure. As a Global Messenger, I would like to help other people get a better life. I want to help people with no self confidence and make them feel they are winners and tell them not to believe people who tell them they are losers. Not everyone accepts people who are different. One girl on our team was told by her father that she was stupid. He only used negative words about her. Now, she does believe it is NOT true!”
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