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Ana Ligia Mixco Sol de Saca, First Lady of El Salvador, signs the decree. She will serve as Chair of the 2006 Special Olympics Latin America Regional Games Executive Committee. |
On 29 August 2005, El Salvador President Elias Antonio Saca González issued an Executive Decree stating that “the Government of El Salvador recognizes the importance of encouraging sports and generating the opportunity of training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities … and it gladly approves the development of the Special Olympics Program and (to) host the First Special Olympics Latin America Games in 2006.”
Furthermore, the government of El Salvador resolved to “create the Salvadorian Organizing Executive Committee of the 2006 Special Olympics Latin America Games” that will include the Directors/Ministers or legal representatives of the following institutions:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs [State Department]
- Department of the Interior
- Treasury Department
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance
- Ministry of Tourism
- National Secretariat for the Family
- National Secretariat for Youth • Civil National Police
- Sports National Institute of El Salvador
- National Council for Culture and Art
- Private Enterprise National Association
- Chamber of Commerce and Industry of El Salvador
- Salvadorian Red Cross
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Elías Antonio Saca, President of El Salvador, administers an oath of service to the 2006 Special Olympics Latin America Regional Games Organizing Committee: (left-right) Cesar Funes, Secretary for Youth; Federico Hernández, President of CONCULTURA (National Council for Culture and Art); Rubén Rochi, Tourism Minister; Ricardo Meneses, Civil National Police Director; José Guillermo Maza, Public Health and Social Assistance Minister; Dr. Benjamín Ruíz Rodas, Director of the Salvadorian Red Cross; Darlyn Meza, Education Minister; Federico Colorado, ANEP (Private Enterprise National Association); Guillermo López Suárez, Treasury Minister; Silvia Aguilar, Government Vice Minister; and Francisco Laínez, Foreign Affairs Minister. |
In the presence of the national media, these Ministers and representatives took an oath to serve on the 2006 Special Olympics Latin America Regional Games Executive Committee, which will be chaired by First Lady Ana Ligia de Saca.
Special Olympics Global Messenger Nino Durler of El Salvador addressed the distinguished gathering on behalf of the Special Olympics movement and captivated the attention of the President, First Lady, Ministers and the media. Agreement was reached that Durler will serve as an advisor to the Games Executive Committee and that other athletes will be recruited to serve as members of the Games Operational Committees.
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Nino Durler, Special Olympics El Salvador athlete and International Global Messenger, captivated the audience with his remarks about the movement. |
Special Olympics Athlete Yuri Chávez joined Durler in presenting gifts to the President and First Lady. On behalf of the Special Olympics Regional Leadership Council and Program leaders, Hector Cueva thanked the President and assured him that these Games will have a lasting and positive impact on the citizens of El Salvador.
“Our congratulations and thanks go to Special Olympics El Salvador President Dr. Hugo Matasol and National Director Juan Jose Gomes for their untiring efforts over the past several years in securing the bid to host the 2006 Latin America Regional Games,” said Special Olympics Latin America Regional Managing Director Dennis Brueggemann. “The ceremony with President Saca was unprecedented in our movement’s history. As President Saca noted, these Games are a national project and he has brought together an outstanding group of government and business leaders to ensure that these Games are world-class.” |
