Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, talking with participants in the Global Youth Forum, as well as 300 Japanese youth from area middle schools, offered this advice: "Most of us spend our whole lives not seeing people, but my advice is simple; you're beautiful, give people a chance to see you." (Photo by Yo Nagaya/PHOTO KISHIMOTO)
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By George Srour
It’s a simple phrase but one that former U.S. President Bill Clinton urged the world to use more often, “I see you.”
Fresh from a visit to White Ring, the floor hockey venue of the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games, President Clinton commended the Global Youth Summit participants and more than 300 Japanese youth in attendance for their unwavering commitment and efforts in furthering the Special Olympics movement worldwide.
“My life has been inspired by Special Olympics and the many Americans who have competed in Special Olympics,” Clinton said.
The three-hour Global Youth Forum held on 27 February at the headquarters of the Nagano Prefecture gave individuals the opportunity to exchange ideas and share stories of how Special Olympics has allowed them to change attitudes in their communities about people with intellectual disabilities.
“I started working with my Special Olympics partner, Krystal, in my biology class,” Global Youth Summit participant Lee Tyrell said. “Once I got into it, other people began seeing they too could make a difference by helping out.”
After several participants shared their experiences with emcee and Special Olympics Board Member Bart Connor and Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver, Clinton offered some advice which quickly became the mantra of the afternoon.
“In Central Africa, there is a tribe who greets one another not by saying, ‘Hello,’ but, ‘I see you,’” Clinton said. “Most of us spend our whole lives not seeing people, but my advice is simple: you’re beautiful, give people the chance to see you.”
Other celebrities and Special Olympics Board Members such as Rev. Joseph Run and Vanessa Williams facilitated discussion and the presentation of initiatives undertaken by youth at Nagano schools leading up to the Games. From seeing increases in participation levels in Unified Sports® to working with Special Olympics athletes in the classroom, Forum participants provided stories headlined by hope.
“After developing the Unified Sports program in the capital of Namibia, we have seen an outpouring of people who want to get involved,” one Global Youth Summit participant said. “We have 400 students who want to help, and the number keeps on growing.”
Even those new to the movement have embraced the opportunity Special Olympics has given them.
“I helped my cousin train for field hockey,” South African Unified Partner Matthew Van Eegan said. “I hope to go home and get others involved with persons that have intellectual disabilities. If it wasn’t for my cousin, I wouldn’t be here.”
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