There are no disabled people. Only special gifts, often invisible to our eyes, but absolutely existing. Our duty is to create conditions for the prosperity of these individuals, to teach us all courage, resilience, and purposefulness. Special Olympics first took this approach back in 1968, when Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the organization knowing firsthand what it was like to be ostracized by society because you had a problem. Her own sister was lobotomized by the powerful Kennedys and treated like a disgrace to the family. More than half a century later, Special Olympics has become the largest sporting event of its kind.

The day before yesterday at the Zappeio Megaron, in the presence of the President of the Republic, the Flame of Hope set off from Athens on a journey to the 2023 World Games, which will be held in Germany for the first time from June 17 to 25. . It will feature 192 national missions with 7,000 athletes across 24 sports. Trainers play an important role, as well as volunteers who train, support, set an example of what the participating young men and women can achieve. The Greek delegation consists of 71 athletes, 22 coaches, 2 delegation leaders, 4 administrative staff and a doctor. After a brilliant ceremony, teams of runners from the schools of Athens, the German Embassy and the German School of Athens (GSA) accompanied the torchbearers from 12 stations in the capital to the GSA stadium. “Moreover, in these competitions there are only winners. The biggest wins are inclusiveness and social participation,” emphasized the German Ambassador to Athens. On behalf of the host nation, Ernst Reichel received the Flame of Peace from two Special Olympics athletes, Vaso Katsudi of Greece and Natasha Vermelskirchen of Germany.

The President of Special Olympics Hellas, Ambassador Dionysios Codellas, in turn, emphasized that “the philosophy of these Games is contained in one single word – inclusion, which inspired the first organizers and inspires us to this day.” Acting Minister of Culture Giorgos Kumentakis summed up the spirit of the Games in one sentence: “Every athlete who takes part has already excelled, regardless of the outcome of the sporting event.” David Evangelista, President of Special Olympics Europe and Eurasia, took the floor and mentioned something important that we should not forget: these are the first games after the pandemic, which makes them even more important. If we experienced exclusion at that time, then people with disabilities did experience it to a multiple degree. This makes their sports holiday even more wonderful…