Every face you see inside the Olympic Stadium shows a smile. The Berlin Special Olympics World Games welcomes nearly 6000 athletes in their city from 17 till 25 June. The competitors are thrilled and delighted to be part of such a truly big and inclusive multi-sport event. Dancing Cuban athletes discover their fans on the stands and show their moves, a female participator from Bermuda is coming out of her wheelchair to walk a couple of meters in the parade of athletes with her colleagues and the Moroccan delegation is jumping for every camera they can find. As if every athlete in the stadium is saying: ‘Here we are. Look at us.’
The five rings outside the stadium in West-Berlin, the lighting of the flame, the history of the Games in the German capital. The official start of the Special Olympics gets that special Olympic feel. ‘Unbeatable together’ is the motto of the event that sees a huge opportunity for inclusion. Sven Albrecht, director Special Olympics Deutschland and head of the organizing committee: “We believe that sport has the power to affect other areas of life. It should become visible that it is quite natural that people with different abilities belong to society and what an important role they can play.”
This week athletes are competing against each other at the Special Olympics in 25 different sports. From the known and traditional ones such as volleyball, athletics and swimming to more obscure ones like roller skating, bocce and powerlifting. Inclusive in people, inclusive in sports and inclusive in participating countries. Isle of Man, Macau or Palestine for example aren’t sovereign countries and member of the UN in it’s own right, but athletes are waving their flag. Winning is not the main issue at these Games. Off course, when they compete all athletes want to win, but personal growth and gaining experience by participating are just as important.
Kennedy
The Special Olympics World Games was founded back in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of John F. and Robert Kennedy. Back then it was a one-day event. The first ten editions were held in the United States of America. It wasn’t until 2003 when the event crossed the border, developed itself and expanded the message. Dublin, capital city of Ireland, hosted that 11th edition.
The Kennedy-family still is heavily involved in the organization and motivated to fight for the visibility of athletes with intellectual disability. Timothy Shriver is the chairman of Special Olympics and the son of the founder of the Games, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. “We have quite a simple message: the world can change. This country has changed”, said Shriver in the city where his uncle once told the world er ist ein Berliner. “If you can commit yourself to greatness, you can change the world.”
Overcome prejudice
The goals of the event are clear. Raise public awareness of the needs of differently-abled athletes is one of them. And from that an inclusive society can be promoted, where all people regularly can participate in self-determined sports locally. The mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner: “It’s all about the Olympic spirit, overcoming prejudice, and cohesion. These Games are also intended to set an example. A sign that sport has the power to unite. A sign for an inclusive world and an inclusive Berlin. A sign that an inclusive society can benefit everyone.”
The family tree of the Olympic family has a couple of loots. The founding father is off course the Olympic Games. But his children wants to seize the opportunity to grow and wants to be seen. And judging by the roar on the stands of the Olympic stadium that lasted several minutes when the home delegation of Germany arrived in the arena to close the parade, the Berlin people are ready for it.
