European Youth Games in Review Law Enforcement Torch Run A Torch Runner is welcomed by the local community during the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg leading up to the European Youth Games. (All photos by Adam Nurkiewicz) From 26-30 September, the Special Olympics "Flame of Hope" was escorted throughout the Lazio Region by 34 European law enforcement officers and four Special Olympics athletes during the Law Enforcement Torch Run® Final Leg. The Torch Run started with a ceremony in Formia, where the team then split into two groups and ran through 18 towns and cities that were part of the Host Town program. “The Torch is a way to support and welcome children with disabilities into the community. They are the reason we are here,” said Bob Chandler, a veteran Torch Runner from Great Britain. During stopovers, the runners were greeted by cheering schoolchildren, local officials and the community. On 29 September the two legs came together in Rome at the Piazza del Campidoglio. On 30 September, the Torch was carried into Opening Ceremonies at the Stadio dei Marmi. Host Town Program Townspeople welcome a delegation of Special Olympics athletes. From 28-30 September, 39 towns and cities in the Lazio Region gave Special Olympics delegations a heartfelt welcome as part of the Host Town Program. “It touches me deeply to be part of such an international event. This is a true celebration of disability and multiculturalism,” said Jacopo Tognazzi, an official from the Mayor’s office in Tivoli. Preparations to welcome Special Olympics delegations included awareness-building efforts about disability as well as efforts to understand the history and culture of visiting delegation.     Symposium on Health, Social Inclusion and Sports Left to right: Main symposium presenters Prof. Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper; Christine Lineham; Michel Deurinck, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia panel moderator; Francoise Jan; The Honorable Anne McGuire On 1 October the Symposium on Health, Social Inclusion and Sports for Young People with Intellectual Disability generated a great deal of interest from experts in the field of intellectual disability. High-profile presenters included: Francoise Jan, Past President, Inclusion Europe (France); Christine Lineham, Senior Researcher, University College Dublin (Ireland); Prof. Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper, President of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (Germany); and the Honorable Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People (Great Britain). Participants were welcomed by Dr. Giovanni Leonardi, General Director, Human Resources and Health Professions, Italian Ministry of Health; Marta Santos Pais, Director, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre; and Martin Sandvik, Special Olympics Global Messenger (Norway). Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver also addressed the audience of more than 100 persons. The day-long symposium format was a combination of presentations and breakout sessions. A report will be published with key findings generated from the discussions. Youth Forum Alessandro Troiano, Special Olympics Italy athlete (left) and Diego Santilli, a Special Olympics Italy partner (right) served as moderators during the Youth Forum. Sabine Brecklinghaus, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Manager, Healthy Athletes, Schools and Athlete Recruitment, facilitated the discussion. On 2 October, 150 young people participated in a Special Olympics Youth Forum. The forum was led by Claudio Arrigoni, a journalist from the Gazetta dello Sport, Italy’s most popular newspaper. Local Youth Forum ambassadors – Diego Santilli, a Special Olympics partner, and Alessandro Troiano, a Special Olympics athlete – helped lead the discussion. Among the participants were young football players who are taking part in 10-country Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia pilot project that combines SO Get Into It® and Unified Sports® football. The project has generated 2,000 new players, while a landmark Unified Sports research project, conducted in parallel, has yielded strong positive findings in support of Unified Sports. At the end of the forum, participants signed an agreement encouraging young people to value the ideas, skills and contributions of all members of society, including people with intellectual disabilities. Timothy Shriver addressed the audience, while visitors included Angelo Moratti, Board Member of the Games Organizing Committee, and a Special Olympics International Board Member; Anna Cozzoli, from the Executive Agency, Youth Program, European Commission; and William Gaillard, Director, Communications and Public Affairs, UEFA. Families Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver meets the Honorable Rosy Bindi before the Family Forum. Games Director Alessandra Palazzotti and Board Member Alessandro Palazzotti (middle/left-right) also greeted the Minister. Close to 700 family members from 25 countries attended the Youth Games. On 3 October, more than 100 family members attended a Family Forum in which issues related to advocacy, education, inclusion and family needs were covered in presentations and breakout sessions. The Honorable Rosy Bindi, Italy’s Minister of Family Policies, gave the keynote address. “The family is the place for the most important type of social integration, and Special Olympics shows that without the family it is very difficult for those with challenges to overcome obstacles in everyday life,” the Minister said. Healthy Athletes A Healthy Athletes health care screening becomes a happy occasion for athletes and volunteers alike. The Healthy Athletes® tent at the Youth Games was a beehive of activity, with all six disciplines holding screenings. It was the largest Healthy Athletes initiative undertaken by Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, with more than 30 Clinical Directors from 20 countries and 200 volunteers running the screenings. Initial figures for vision screenings show that 800 athletes had their eyes checked and 260 pairs of glasses were distributed. Safilo provided the frames and Essilo provided the lenses. Healthy Athletes also proved to be an important tour stop for guests and visiting dignitaries, including Giovanni Petrucci, President of the National Olympic Committee; Pedro Velasquez, Deputy Head, Sports Unit of the European Commission; and UNICEF representatives. athleteconnect Anna Cozzoli (wearing scarf), from the Executive Agency, Youth Program, European Commission, visited the athleteconnect area and met Special Olympics athletes and Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia staff. One area of Special Olympics Village was dedicated to athleteconnect, a project that brings young people with and without intellectual disabilities together, including through use of the Internet. Anna Cozzoli (wearing scarf), from the Executive Agency, Youth Program, European Commission, visited the area and met Special Olympics athletes and Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia staff. The European Union provided significant funding for integration-oriented activities for the Youth Games. Other popular activities at Special Olympics Village included stationary rowing machines and spinning classes.