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Hailing from 16 countries, nearly 100 delegates to the fourth Global Youth Summit (GYS) have descended on Shanghai for an activity-filled, two-week conference held in conjunction with the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Since early May, the 30 delegations representing each of Special Olympics' seven global regions have been hard at work, harnessing the power of technology in the worldwide campaign to ban the use of the “r” word (retard) while promoting respect and understanding for persons with intellectual disabilities. Using outlets such as YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and other social networking media, GYS delegates have logged hundreds of hours creating videos, setting up Websites, authoring blog entries and producing podcasts.
Among their many tasks, the GYS delegates will launch the new Special Olympics Youth Fan Club, an interactive online initiative to engage young people worldwide.
“It is time for us to send the message that using the 'r' word is not right anymore,” GYS delegate Attabeira Feliz German from the Dominican Republic said. “And we are the ones who can help to make sure this happens.”
Summit delegates will file stories each day to appear on the Special Olympics Web site as well as in The Shanghai Daily's special World Games coverage. Throughout the week, they will also host a handful of Webinars for athletes and partners in over ten countries spanning the world.
Capitalizing on both the group's youth and technological savvy, a delegation of UNICEF officials including the organization's Executive Director, Ann Veneman, will work with GYS delegates to make recommendations for a child-friendly version of the United Nations Convention on Rights for People with Disabilities. This collaboration is the first between UNICEF and the GYS.
On 5 October, GYS delegates will take center stage during the Global Youth Forum, an unprecedented event that will be broadcast to one billion people throughout Asia, bringing to light the current issues facing persons with intellectual disabilities. Joining local youth and the GYS team will be SuperBoy winner Sung Xiao Bor, Chinese dancer Dodo, as well as 2003 Global Youth Forum attendee and actor Colin Farrell.
Other activities throughout the Summit include a luncheon with the Special Olympics Board of Directors, participation in both the Family and Policy Summits held throughout the Games and visits to local Shanghai schools and Sunshine Homes.
At the conclusion of the Summit, all delegates will be named to the Special Olympics Global Youth Advisory Board, a two-year appointment that will run up to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games to be held in Boise, Idaho, USA.
Submitted by George Srour |
