SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES PRESENTED

September 13, 2007

All attention focused today on children who will be participating in the Special Olympics World Summer Games and the first ever Central American Games for Students with Disabilities. The athletes were officially introduced at a presentation and awards ceremony held at the House of Culture. National Director of Special Olympics Belize, Akintade Atkins told us more. 

Akintade Atkins,National Director of Special Olympics Belize:

“This event was organized to officially present to the general public,Special Olympics  athletes who will be competing in the Special Olympics World Games,which will be taking place in Shanghia,China from September 28^th-October 12^th.And also,to present officially to the public,the Special Olympics athletes who will be going to the Central American games in Guatemala City to compete from September 28^th-October 7^th.In China,we will be competing alongside 7,000 other athletes from 170 countries.In Guatemala,we will be competing alongside almost 500 athletes from six countries of Central America.We are sending them to the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghia,China.We will be sending a total number of our athletes with three other persons who will be serving in the positions of Head of Delegation,Head Coach and Assistant Coach.Forty-one of them are going to Guatemala City to compete in the 1^st Central American Games.In addition to the 30 Special Olympics athletes,we will be sending fifteen other persons who will be serving in the positions of coaches,Head of Delegation,doctor,physiotherapist and all other positions that they might have to fill.” 

In his address, Atkins said that the Special Olympics is not just an event, rather, it is a movement. He explains. 

Akintade Atkins,National Director of Special Olympics Belize:

“The question always comes up,when are you having the next Special Olympics events?But people have forgotten that Special Olympics is a non-profit organization which provides sports training and athletic competitions for persons with intellectual disabilities.If you look into our mission statements which I just stated,you would see,the company offers year round sports training,active practices and positions of competition opportunities-both local and abroad.There is no way it could have been an event.It is not a one day event,it is a movement.By calling it a movement,we are being impacted in almost all countries.We at Special Olympics are established and impacted in a great number of ways in the lives of persons with intellectual abilities.Special Olympics is not something that just caters for students alone,it’s for all persons with intellectual disabilities.”   

Minister of Education, Francis Fonseca also delivered an address. When we spoke with him, he says that the athletes have the full support of the nation.  

Hon. Francis Fonseca,Minister of Education:

“I think it’s a very,very important movement and that’s why we’re here today to celebrate these young children and to present them to the Belizean people,to hold them up an say that we love them and we’re committed to their future in anyway we can.The Special Olympics presents another opportunity for us to show them that we’re committed to their future,that we’re committed to making sure that they have an opportunity to live a full,meaningful,productive life,and that must be our commitment to these kids.So it’s a wonderful opportunity and I was very glad to be apart of it.As you know,they’re going off to Guatemala later this month and then in October they will be heading off to Shanghai,China to represent Belize.We want them to know as they leave,that they have our full support and the full hopes of our nation behind them.” 

In terms of sponsorship for representation at these two games, Atkins says there has not been anyone who refused to assist. 

Akintade Atkins,National Director of Special Olympics Belize:

“The general public,the business entities,and average persons,average Belizeans - both home and abroad,that we have been able to come across with this ready cost,no person that I know of has even turned us down.However small the donation or support,the response have been magnanimous and we are very grateful and I can safely say at this time,that we have the expenses for both games covered already,and definitely,the delegations,the athletes that are specifically going to these games,they shouldn’t lack anything while at the games.So this will even give them the proper moral to make Belize proud at this event.” 

National Director of Special Olympics Belize, Akintade Atkins.

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