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Special Olympics Bulgaria twins Vany (gold medal) and Tanya Ivanove (bronze), age 13, after the 50m final in athletics at the Friendship Games. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Bulgaria. |
Special Olympics Romania played host to the 2005 Special Olympics Friendship Games from 25-27 September 2005 in the Black Sea resort city of Constanta, with the President of Romania, Traian Basescu, as patron of the event. More than 500 athletes from nine European countries participated. Special Olympics athletes from Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Turkey competed in football (soccer), table tennis, gymnastics and bocce at Gheorghe Hagi Stadium, the Facility for Physical Education and Sports, and the Tomis Sports Complex.
Opening Ceremonies was held on 25 September at the Constanta Sport Hall and included 1,000 local secondary and university students providing a much-needed bridge between members of society with and without disabilities. Romanian Television broadcast the Ceremonies live in Constanta.
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Special Olympics athletes from nine countries competed in four sports, including bocce, at the Friendship Games in Romania. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Bulgaria. |
Special Olympics Romania received accolades from many quarters. “I have been bringing our athletes to international games for over 11 years, and this event was one of the best I have ever seen,” said one of the participating Heads of Delegation. “The Romanians really made us feel welcome. Everything was perfect.” Testifying to the importance Special Olympics plays in people's lives, the mother of one of the Romanian athletes said, "Our entire family is so much improved thanks to Special Olympics and the funding that the United States provided. All our lives were influenced by having our son. But since he began attending Special Olympics events like this one, he has gained so much self-confidence. He is changed and we are all thrilled to see him developing so well. Thank you!"
In August 2004, the U.S. government provided a grant through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to Special Olympics Romania for a three-year program titled "Support for Changing Attitudes" that will give 15,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities the chance to show Romania their abilities, not their disabilities, through sports events, the creation of family support networks and leadership training opportunities. |
