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In 2001, Peter and Bobby Farrelly approached Special Olympics about the development of a feature film, The Ringer, a comedy about a young man who impersonates a Special Olympics athlete and competes in a Special Olympics event in order to win a bet. Peter and Bobby asked for the support and guidance of the Special Olympics movement in the making of the film.
Over the ensuing months, Special Olympics Board members, staff members, athletes’ family members and volunteers undertook a thoughtful and far-reaching analysis of the project. In their discussions with the producers and in their reviews of various drafts of the scripts, they determined that the film could help advance the vision of Special Olympics—namely, to overcome the discriminatory and fearful attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities that are prevalent around the world.
Based on these conclusions reached after two years of analysis, the Board of Special Olympics decided to endorse the making of the film. In the months that followed, Special Olympics leaders continued to work closely with Bobby and Peter to ensure to the best of their ability that the humor and drama of the film would result in a greater understanding among moviegoers of the humanity of Special Olympics athletes and all people with intellectual disabilities.
As we prepare for the film’s release, we believe the movie represents a unique opportunity to harness the power of mainstream mass media to achieve a quantum change in public understanding of, and attitudes toward, individuals with intellectual disabilities — especially among a broader younger audience. The film projects the commonality of all people, showing people with intellectual disabilities as more alike than different. Laughing at a person and laughing with a person are very different forms of humor, and it is our belief that this comedy will give audiences the chance to laugh with Special Olympics athletes while appreciating their joy and wisdom. Equally importantly, we believe that the stigmas presented in the early scenes of the movie will be seen as folly by the end of The Ringer.
Many of us know all too well how hurtful insensitive words can be. Special Olympics hopes people seeing the movie will be inspired to reach out to people with intellectual disabilities and say, to quote Special Olympics athlete Troy Daniels, “Come sit by me” – a simple gesture that reflects a world of acceptance and mutual respect.
We invite you to enjoy The Ringer and hope you will join us in our effort to use this film as a starting point for a thoughtful discussion about one of the last remaining civil rights movements today: to fight for equality and dignity for people with intellectual disabilities. We join you in hoping that this film will encourage thousands of new volunteers, coaches, athletes and Unified Sports® partners to join the world of Special Olympics – a world full of joy and acceptance and a world without bias, prejudice or false preconceptions.
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Bruce A. Pasternack
President & CEO
Special Olympics
Return to The Ringer page. |
Timothy P. Shriver, Ph.D.
Chairman of the Board
Special Olympics
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