Students from around the world to gather at the 2003 Special Olympics Global Youth Summit, promoting acceptance and change

18 June 2003

Summit to kick off two-year commitment of youth leadership for Special Olympics around the world The Global Youth Summit will begin with a “Journalism and Photojournalism 101” session, where students will learn tips from seasoned journalists, giving them assistance as they complete some of the Summit's most important tasks: each team of student reporters will act as reporters and publish their stories daily during the World Games on the Special Olympics SO Get Into It (click on the "Get Into It Gazette" link) and 2003 World Games Web sites. Youth participants will also report for Scholastic Magazine, publishing stories to its Web site. Students with and without mental retardation from 17 countries will collaborate in a mission to promote acceptance when they attend the 2nd Special Olympics Global Youth Summit to be held from 21-29 June in Dublin, Ireland. Thirty-eight students from Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Japan, Lebanon, Namibia, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, South Africa and the United States will attend this educational exchange of ideas and opinions, held in conjunction with the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The Global Youth Summit will serve as a catalyst for bringing greater recognition of Special Olympics in schools throughout the world. All 38 students have dedicated the next two years to creating a plan that will strengthen Special Olympics in their schools and communities and help change attitudes by promoting acceptance of individuals with intellectual disabilities. “This program will get youngsters thinking in a more positive way, and at the end their attitudes will change toward people with mental challenges,” said 13-year old Kamna Prem from New Dehli, India. “Everyone will realize that they are no different.” Prem is one of 19 youth who will partner with students with mental retardation during the week’s events. “This program will get youngsters thinking in a more positive way, and at the end their attitudes will change toward people with mental challenges” Kamna Prem, Summit Participant The 2003 Global Youth Summit will focus on seven important tasks: Discuss ways that organizers of Special Olympics can meets the needs of today’s athletes, volunteers, coaches and family members Share their ideas with Special Olympics about ways to reverse stereotypical attitudes about people with disabilities Report on the athletes who are competing at the World Games and transmit the stories back to their schools electronically Host a Special Olympics Get Into It information booth and activity center as part of the Olympic Town program Serve as the stars in a television program that discusses youth today as leaders of the Special Olympics movement Conduct live web casts and video conferences from the Summit to schools and youth agencies globally Upon returning to their schools, expand on the opportunities for youth to become involved with Special Olympics in the school and community. The Summit will begin with a “Journalism and Photojournalism 101” session where students will learn tips from seasoned journalists so they can send their schools stories from the World Games. Students will also participate in a Web-based “Get Into It” discussion where they will talk about issues related to their mission. In alignment with the theme “Changing Attitudes: One at a Time,” the highlight of the Summit will be the Global Youth Forum, a televised open discussion where students will share their views about stereotypes and attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities with educational leaders, celebrities and government officials from around the world. Timothy Shriver, President and CEO of Special Olympics, believes the young people who are taking part in the Global Youth Summit are preparing to lead a global awakening. “These youth will arrive in Dublin with big ideas that will change the attitudes of billions of people from around the world. They will demand nothing less than to have adults join them by following their lead as messengers in their schools, villages, towns, cities and communities," said Shriver. 2003 Global Youth Summit Participants Name Age Hometown Ryan Atkinson 15 Anchorage, Alaska, USA Angela Wegsheider 16 Anchorage, Alaska, USA Cristian Maluje 12 Santiago, Chile Maximo Pacheco 18 Santiago, Chile Yibiao Guo 19 Beijing, China Yi Shan 15 Beijing, China Tam Wai-yip 19 Hong Kong, China Cheung Wing-hing 18 Hong Kong, China Wei-Hsun Chen 12 Taipei, Chinese Taipei Peter Chang 15 Taipei, Chinese Taipei AdbRahman Ali 17 Giza, Egypt Salah Hamed Mostafa 14 Giza, Egypt Gali Goren 16 Kfar-youm, Israel Neta Levi 16 Hadera, Israel Mira Chandra 12 New Delhi, India Kamna Prem 13 New Delhi, India Alessandro Troiano 18 Rome, Italy Diego Santilli 15 Rome, Italy Takeuchi Kazushige 18 Iiyama City, Japan Niwa Ryosuke 16 Suzaka City, Japan Suzan Al Mimi 16 Amman, Jordan Sura Talal Gbazal 16 Amman, Jordan El Hajj Jawdat 14 Beirut, Lebanon Hiba Sami Hammoud 16 Beirut, Lebanon Andrew Royal 17 Rolla,Missouri, USA A.J. Hellickson 16 Rolla,Missouri, USA Chantell Van Wyk 13 Khomsadal, Namibia Freda Kambangula 14 Windhoek, Namibia Luis Alberto-Aguilera-Medina 16 Asuncion, Paraguay Milena Cocciani 16 Asuncion, Paraguay Claudia Reguena 15 Lima, Peru Joanna Castro Macera 17 Lima, Peru Mariusi Strzyzewsui 15 Warszawa, Poland Marcin Cichulsui 16 Warszawa, Poland Ralulimi Mukovhe 16 Polakwane, Republic of South Africa Manwadu Rofhiwa 15 Polakwane, Republic of South Africa Tyler Straughn 17 Columbia, Tennessee Dustin Hargrove 17 Columbia, Tennessee   For more information on the Global Youth Summit, contact: Ron Vederman, Ed.D. Director, Athlete Recruitment, School and Youth Outreach Special Olympics headquarters +1 (202) 824-0275 rvederman@specialolympics.org Raynell Reese Manager, Athlete Recruitment, School and Youth Outreach Special Olympics headquarters +1 (202) 824-0354 rreese@specialolympics.org