Special Olympics European Youth Games 2006 Read inspiring stories about the Youth Games athletes and their friends on http://www.athleteconnect.org/ Read inspiring stories about the Youth Games athletes and their friends on http://www.athleteconnect.org/, or visit the Special Olympics European Youth Games Web site for information in Italian and English. The Special Olympics European Youth Games were held 30 September-5 October in Rome, Italy. The Youth Games involved 1,400 athletes from all 57 Special Olympics National Programs in Europe and Eurasia. Read reports from the European Youth Games (Updated 12 October 2006) Opening Ceremonies European Youth Games in Review – 1 European Youth Games in Review – 2 This was the first time that a Special Olympics event focused on young people between the ages of 12 and 21. The aim of the Youth Games was to encourage young people with and without intellectual disabilities to break down barriers and forge new friendships to help build a more welcoming and inclusive society. Visit the AthleteConnect Web site, where school-age children all over Europe and Eurasia made real and valuable connections with the Special Olympics athletes who competed in the Special Olympics European Youth Games. Virtually anyone between the ages of 12 and 21 – with or wihout an intellectual disability – can participate! AthleteConnect gives you the opportunity to make new friends and participate in activities that promote acceptance, respect, friendship and community spirit. Visit today to read inspiring stories about the Youth Games athletes and their friends. “Many young people with intellectual disabilities will grow up in relative isolation, excluded from their peer group. They are not invited to play at break-time; they are not chosen to be on the team. The Special Olympics European Youth Games will promote a message of welcome and inclusion among young people with and without disabilities, transforming difference into acceptance, mutual respect and friendship,” said Michael Smith, Managing Director of the Brussels-based office of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia. At the Youth Games, Special Olympics athletes competed in seven sports: Aquatics Athletics Basketball Bocce Bowling Gymnastics, and Unified Sports® Football (Soccer) Left to right, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs) Manager Nolwen Grassin, Special Olympics Italy athlete Serena Silvi, Special Olympics Czech Republic athlete Marcela Klicperova, Special Olympics Belgium athlete Jacques van Hees and Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Schools Initiatives Manager Sabine Brecklinghaus model their Athlete Connect T-shirts. [Photo courtesy AthleteConnect] AthleteConnect is a project that ran parallel to the Youth Games, and aimed to use the experience of Special Olympics athletes taking part to make new connections with peers from schools in their community. The AthleteConnect Web site enabled schools to post information, such as photos, articles and videos, about how they are getting involved in Special Olympics and making connections with Special Olympics athletes in the run-up to the Youth Games. The project's goal was to involve all 1,400 Special Olympics athletes from 57 countries who participated in the Youth Games. The AthleteConnect concept is based on the desire that young people with intellectual disabilities have to participate in sports competition and to experience friendship with peers in their community. Special Olympics has an opportunity to provide both, showing that sports can be both enjoyable and a powerful tool for social inclusion. The school-driven AthleteConnect activities included sports, social, fundraising and public awareness events that involved Special Olympics athletes and their peers. Activities were organized throughout the year, leading up to the Games and upon athletes' return from Rome. Participants:    • 1,400 from all 57 National Programs in Europe/Eurasia    • 400 coaches    • 3,000 family members    • 2,000 volunteers    • 20,000 school-age children Other components of the Youth Games included a European symposium on the inclusion of young people with disabilities through sports, health screenings, a youth summit, a Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics, and a pre-Games Host Town program in the Lazio Region (28-29 September) where delegations were welcomed into local communities. Advertising agency JWT Milan created a television advertisement [watch now] as part of publicity efforts for the European Youth Games, a shoot that involved more than 10 directors and film crews working independently in different countries to capture footage of sports fields, football pitches, swimming pools and basketball courts.