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Jundiaí, 4 July– Yesterday, hundreds of young people from four schools in Jundiaí, Brazil, gathered for the Schools and Youth Forum at the auditorium of the Superior School of Physical Education (ESEF). Young people with and without intellectual disabilities shared life stories and experiences about how Special Olympics has transformed their lives.
“I believe in them because they are capable,” said Professor Gerardo Ramos at the beginning of the Forum. The participants learned that it is alright to be different and that mutual respect is essential to accept those differences.
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The participants were invited to “Be a fan of integration,” promoting and transmitting a message of respect and human dignity at the school and community levels in order to make the world a better place for everyone.
All over the world, the Special Olympics movement inspires people to open their minds, to accept differences, to include people with intellectual disabilities, to celebrate equality and, ultimately, to transform entire communities. Globally, Special Olympics reaches out to more than 3 million young people in 75 countries in approximately 11,000 schools with 130 different programs such as Special Olympics Get Into It™ and also through local and global Youth Summits.
The Schools and Youth Forum is part of the agenda for the Special Olympics Pan-American Tennis Tournament, held 2-6 July in Jundiaí, Brazil. For the first time, Brazil is hosting a regional Special Olympics competition, with more than 110 athletes with intellectual disabilities representing 18 countries demonstrating their tennis skills.
The theme for the Pan-American Tournament — “Be a fan” — embodies the Special Olympics vision of its 40-year history as well as the values of its athletes: dignity, courage, acceptance and spirit.This year, the global Special Olympics movement celebrates the innovative and inspirational vision of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who in 1968 introduced the idea of sports as a means to transform the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and also their communities, creating a world of tolerance and inclusion for everyone.
For further information on the Special Olympics Pan-American Tennis Tournament, visit www.esef.br/panamericano
Contact
Claudia Echeverry
+ (507) 317 0615
cechevrry@specialolympics.org
Raquel Delgado
+ (507) 317 0615
rdelgado@specialolympics.org
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