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Gabriela Velikova, Special Olympics table tennis athlete, addresses conference participants, stating: "Sports brings me luck. I believe sports helps me become more self-confident. My dream is to become an assistant table tennis coach. I want to become independent and live on my own." (Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Bulgaria) |
As part of the United Nations' International Day of Disabled Persons, more than 70 people attended the "Sports for the Social Integration of People with Intellectual Disabilities conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 2 December 2005. During the conference, 13 sports federations and government ministries signed the Declaration for Access to Sport with Special Olympics Bulgaria.
The conference, which was hosted under the auspices of Dr. Georgi Parvanov, President of Bulgaria, was organized by Special Olympics Bulgaria in cooperation with UN Resident Coordinator for Bulgaria Neil Buhne, as well as the State Agency for Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Education and Science, the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria and the ProSport Foundation.
Ivan Anastasov, President, Bulgarian Basketball Federation, was one of the signatories of the agreement. "Awareness of the benefits of sports is a major obstacle to involving more players," he said. "The Basketball Federation would like to promote and bring basketball to special schools in our country. We are very supportive of Special Olympics and proud to be associated with the organization."
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Ivan Anastasov (left), President, Bulgarian Basketball Federation, shakes hands with Asparuh Vasilev, Special Olympics Bulgaria gymnast, with Hristo Hristosov, National Director, Special Olympics Bulgaria, looking on. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Bulgaria) |
Vesela Lecheva, Chairperson of State Agency for Youth and Sport, in her letter of endorsement to the conference, acknowledged that the Special Olympics initiative in Bulgaria "is an incentive for equal standing of people with disabilities and their social inclusion through sport."
Neil Buhne, UN representative, said: "I am impressed when I see not only so many government officials, sports federations and influential people in Bulgaria present today, but also the involvement of Special Olympics athletes among them. Special Olympics is an international organization that enshrines the principles of equality and mutual cooperation. The United Nations is proud to support Special Olympics."
During the conference, a national campaign to support the delegation participating in the Special Olympics European Youth Games in Rome, Italy, in 2006 received a letter of endorsement from the Bulgarian President.
Prior to the conference, 15 athletes, parents, coaches and educators attended an Athlete Leadership Programs seminar on public speaking and governance. The athletes had the opportunity to present their work during the conference.
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