Nearly 100 delegates from 16 countries came to Shanghai, China, for the 2007 Special Olympics Global Youth Summit, a two-week conference held in conjunction with the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, 2-11 October. Delegates, including students with and without intellectual disabilities, reported on the events and participants in the World Games. Following is a sampling of those reports.
Young, Talented Roller Skater Excited to Compete
By Michael Field and Priscilla Uiras, Global Youth Summit Delegates from Namibia
The Namibian Global Youth Summit delegation had the honor of interviewing a young Jamaican athlete by the name of Monique Brown. This remarkable young talent grasped our attention while winning her heat in the 100m roller skating race at Huangpu Roller Skating Hall. We caught up with her after her event and she was willing to share her thoughts and feelings on her event, as well as Special Olympics as a whole.
This astonishing 14-year-old athlete has been involved in Special Olympics Jamaica for approximately three years. Her preferred sporting events are roller skating and running, which she takes part in back home.
Here in Shanghai, Monique has chosen to focus her abilities on roller skating, and it seems to be paying off, judging by her performance. She is one of four skaters from Jamaica taking part in the World Games and this is her first-ever summer games. Monique is very excited and enthusiastic about her entire World Games experience.
The Special Olympics Jamaica roller skating team practiced two hours a day from Monday through Saturday in preparation for World Games. Practicing in a local parking lot, the team started with warm-ups, moving on to talks about the relevant training sessions and finally some friendly races.
Monique is a remarkable athlete who enjoys and benefits from Special Olympics and she is an excellent ambassador for the organization.
College Students Travel Far to Broadcast World Games
By Marwa Warde and Joy Jameleddine, Global Youth Summit Delegates from Lebanon
Edythe McNamee has left many classmates behind to be in Shanghai for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games. After being selected by her university to work with Special Olympics in broadcasting competitions to a global audience, McNamee packed her bags and hasn’t looked back.
“I love that everyone is very enthusiastic at the World Games,” McNamee said. “When different people from different countries, traditions and ages get together, it doesn’t matter to them where they are from; all of them just have fun together!”
McNamee’s journalism class is working on a World Games Web site – http://www.specialolympicslive.org/ – which which requires her to take pictures and report on the World Games. She hopes that by taking pictures, she will capture the many beautiful moments of Special Olympics.
On the Web site McNamee is working on, each athlete will have a link on the site with their picture and a few news feeds stating their recent activities and accomplishments.
McNamee hopes that her efforts during these Games will help others to enjoy the spirit of Special Olympics as much as she has. By making World Games competition more accessible online, McNamee hopes her technology knowledge will help continue spreading the Special Olympics movement.
Brazilian Roller Skating Coach Dedicated to Success
By Tarek El-Etr and Kareem El Gabri, Global Youth Summit Delegates from Egypt
While many people believe coaching is just about teaching technique, Special Olympics Brazil roller skating coach Fabio is certainly an exception.
Coaching his athlete, Jessica, who is competing internationally for the first time at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Fabio is extremely enthusiastic about his athlete’s chances for doing well in competition despite having difficulties during the seeding rounds.
Fabio’s passion for Special Olympics began when he was given the opportunity to work with fellow students who have intellectual disabilities. Nearly 11 years later, Fabio credits Special Olympics for changing his life and helping him find new friendships.
Jessica and Fabio are just two of the more than 50 delegates from Special Olympics Brazil who are competing at the World Games. Coaches and athletes practiced nearly every day leading up to their travel to Shanghai with hopes of bringing home many medals.
Fabio hopes to continue championing the Special Olympics movement once these World Games have come to a close and Jessica hopes to make it to World Games in the future.
Special Olympics Great Britain Duo Enjoying World Games
By: Marilena DeMayo and Hannah Sandeman, Global Youth Summit Delegates from Australia
Two old friends united by their love for the sport of gymnastics have travelled together to compete in the 2007 Special Olympics Summer World Games. Penelope Watson and John Hutchinson are competing in rhythmic gymnastics and artistic gymnastics, respectively, in their first World Games appearance.
John, 25, has been involved in Special Olympics for more than half his life. The 15-year veteran began training and competing as just a way to stay in shape, but today finds himself competing in an international event, while counting rings as his favorite event.
Penelope, 26, began her involvement after being invited by John to a gymnastics event just three years ago. Penelope favors the ribbon and the hoop in competition.
Both Penelope and John really appreciate the opportunities the Special Olympics has given them. Traveling to the World Games has been a fun experience for them and being in China, not to mention enjoying several movies en route, has helped them to enjoy their time as Special Olympics Great Britain team members.
Bowler Celebrates Birthday Before World Games Begin
By Andrey Kosikhin and Ruslan Umbin, Global Youth Summit Delegates from Kazakhstan
Traveling all the way from Australia, Andrew Aitken has come with nine members of his family to support his son Tom in his first-ever bid for gold as a World Games bowler. The immense support Tom has received from his family has helped him gain self-confidence ahead of his competition with has him hoping that he will perform well.
A bowler for the past three years, Tom has been involved in Special Olympics for two years. In his short bowling career, Tom has won two gold medals and one silver medal from the Special Olympics Australia National Games. At first, Andrew expressed concern over Tom’s involvement with Special Olympics as he is typically rather shy, but Andrew’s fears were unfounded. Tom has adapted very well, making several new friends through Special Olympics.
To kick off the Games, Tom celebrated his 25th birthday in China before the start of the Games with the help of his Host Town. A big surprise party for Tom was arranged and all of his family and friends from Special Olympics Australia were able to come. Andrew is very thankful for the unforgettable celebration of his son’s birthday and the opportunity Special Olympics has given him to travel and show off his abilities.
Upon returning home, Andrew hopes to become further involved with the work of Special Olympics Australia. By helping athletes show their power, Andrew sees just how Special Olympics helps families be proud of their children.
“We just have a little bit different abilities,” Andrew said. “In the end we are all the same and deserve the same rights and have the same feelings.”
The “R-Word” Has No Place in Society Today
By Joy Jameleddine, Global Youth Summit Delegate from Lebanon
If you were to hear someone saying the “R word” (retard) what would you do? Would you go up to them and stop them? The thing is, if you do go and speak to them, would they listen to what you say? Every time I hear someone say retard or retarded I go up to them and ask them to apologize and I tell them how offensive that word can be to many people around them.
One can never know if they have a sister or brother or a child with intellectual disabilities right beside them. Being here in China at the Special Olympics Global Youth Summit has really touched the bottom of my heart. Spending over a week with many children from all over the world, with and without intellectual disability, helped me realize even more that we have more similarities than differences.
Hearing children speak about their past experiences and hearing them cry just makes your soul ache. You feel something deep there, something you can’t express, something that makes you want to go back to your nation and convince everyone to stop using the R word.
Unfortunately that’s too tall a task for one person. If people don’t help, and friends don’t help, life for people with intellectual disabilities won’t get better.
Many people, when told not to say the R word, don’t see the harm they’re doing. “Retard is just another word for stupid or dumb,” a classmate of mine recently told me. “It’s in the dictionary, you can’t stop me from using it.”
If I had my classmates here with me at the Global Youth Summit and they spent time in our discussions and they went with us to see the interviews we conduct each day, they too would be touched by the pain caused each time the R word is used.
The R word isn’t another synonym for stupid or dumb; it is a word that has no place in our society today.
Team USA Athlete Remains Optimistic Despite Loss
By Michael Field and Priscilla Uiras, Global Youth Summit Delegates from Namibia
A dynamic display of skill and determination on the volleyball court at the Putuo Guyuelongshan Gymnasium glued hundreds of fans to their seats for the duration of an exciting volleyball game between Special Olympics Team USA and Special Olympics Finland. Special Olympics Finland won a close match.
Ross Steele, 26, a Team USA athlete has been involved in Special Olympics since he was 8. During those 18 years of involvement, Steele has competed in bocce, football (soccer), softball and aquatics. This time around, Steele was selected to come to the Summer Games for his skills on the volleyball court.
“Coming to China is my dream come true,” Steele said.
Steele plays the position of Labero, and he stays on the back line and handles the hard spiking. Unfortunately, he had to leave his restaurant job to compete in Shanghai, but Steele remains hopeful that he will find employment upon his return.
Deborah Steele, Ross’ mother, has traveled to Shanghai to watch her son’s matches. “He’s the most personable young man you’ll ever meet!” she said.
Ross has dreams of joining the military. He was the first person with an intellectual disability to be accepted into the ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) course at his school and he excels in what he does.
Ross has endless support from his parents and his friends on the team. “Our team is very family-oriented,” Deborah said. “Everyone is supported and encouraged and everyone inspires each other to achieve greatness.”
Special Olympics Great Britain Powerlifter Thrives in Special Olympics
By Deeksha Lal and Ragini Rao, Global Youth Summit Delegates from India
Thanks to the Bradford Sports Association (BSA), Special Olympics athlete Simon Waggett has been involved with Special Olympics for the past seven years and represents Special Olympics Great Britain in powerlifting at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Having been introduced to Special Olympics through BSA for the first time in late 1999, Simon, in the eyes of his mother, Krystina, has grown to become a confident and empowered young man.
Chosen as one of the athletes across England to compete in powerlifting, Krystina counts her son’s opportunity to come to Shanghai as a blessing. "People say that he is very happy now,” she said. “He is more independent and loves new things. He even doesn't like us to go places with him; he likes to do things on his own and without us."
In training for the World Games, Simon has won the support of an unlikely fan club. Training with prison officers in nearby Leeds, Simon has used the jail’s equipment to prepare for the World Games. Back home, Krystina knows there are hundreds of fans looking forward to hearing of Simon’s success.
Krystina believes that one of Simon’s greatest attributes is the way he has overcome adversity all throughout his life. “People's attitude toward Simon has changed for the better since he was born,” she said. "When he was just a small baby, one of the nurses told us to put him in an institution. But one of the other nurses told us to take him home, love him always, and make him a part of the family. We did what the latter said, and never regretted it."
