Dignity, acceptance, and a chance to reach one’s potential – these are human rights worth promoting for everyone. Since 1968, Special Olympics has been bringing one message to the world: people with intellectual disabilities can and will succeed if given the opportunity.
Little Players, Big Stars. Special Olympics Afghanistan athletes were celebrated by top government officials after the youngsters competed in the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.
Afghan Athletes Return as Stars
In February, 11 young athletes from Special Olympics Afghanistan left their home towns for the first time and traveled to Boise, Idaho, USA, to compete in the Special Olympics World Winter Games. When they returned home, there was an entire country waiting to rejoice with them.
Only a few years ago, people with intellectual disabilities in Afghanistan--as in many countries--were isolated and hopeless, with no way to channel their energy. Since 2003, when the Afghanistan program was founded,people with intellectual disabilities have had the opportunity to join Special Olympics, and parents say they are overjoyed at the positive changes in their children. The story of the Afghan team is not unique; Special Olympics is transforming lives all around the world.
Creating a World of Acceptance
Through year-round sports training and competition, Special Olympics empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities in more than 180 countries. Special Olympics often is the only place where they have an opportunity to participate in their communities and develop belief in themselves. Many live lives of neglect and isolation, hidden away or socially excluded from full participation in schools or society. Transforming the athlete, Special Olympics sports are a gateway to empowerment, competence, acceptance and joy.
But we also transform their communities. When people see Special Olympics athletes in action, they see their humanity, their joy in competition, their pride and their potential, and they begin to believe in a different kind of world – a world in which everyone is respected and included.
Special Olympics is Changing Lives
In Afghanistan, it means the floor hockey team was honored with congratulations from the highest levels of government as a tribute to their success. In Romania, it means children who were solitary and forgotten now participate in sports training and interact regularly with the community outside their institutions. In the United States, it means the young girl who was bullied or isolated is chosen as homecoming queen. In China, it means people who were hidden away in their homes now receive vocational and literacy training at thousands of Sunshine Centers across the provinces.
Changing Attitudes, One Person at a Time
We are also a catalyst for societal change, fostering community building around the globe. We are a leader in diversity and tolerance education, bringing young people with and without intellectual disabilities together in our youth and schools outreach. We are a research leader, partnering with governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector to develop new ways to include people with intellectual disabilities in all aspects of society. We are the world’s largest public health organization serving people with intellectual disabilities, offering free health screenings to the world’s most neglected populations. And we are the fastest-growing grass-roots volunteer movement on the planet, with the potential to improve the quality of life for 200 million people with intellectual disabilities – 3 percent of the global population.
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| | What YOU Can Do | |
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| | - Get in touch with Special Olympics near you to see what you can do to help.
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| | - If you're a college student, check out SO College to get active at your school.
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| | - Get in the game by joining Special Olympics Unified Sports®, where people with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete together on the same team.
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