Issue No. 603
Sports
Previous issue
Site map
|
|
12 - 18 September 2002 Issue No. 603 Sports |
Current issue Previous issue Site map | |
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Recommend this page | ||
'Fear of difference'
The mentally handicapped are still being ostracised by society
Timothy Shriver has no illusions about how well mentally disabled athletes are doing in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. "Every region is different," Shriver, the president and CEO of Special Olympics International, told Abeer Anwar. "I think this region is suffering from a number of political problems that other regions don't have. Other regions have different challenges but the political challenges of this region are vast."
The obstacles, added Shriver, are not just political. "There is prejudice and the fear of difference. Many people are still afraid of the mentally disabled."
Shriver said the situation was difficult for people in a region "just trying to survive" but added, "I have seen a lot of people who are desperately poor yet there is still hunger in their hearts to do something good. We have to show that even in the most difficult circumstances we can care for one another, celebrate with one another and applaud one another.
"This is a belonging that every human being has, no matter what his nationality or religion. This unites us all. I think that in any culture Special Olympics has that message: that everyone and everybody can join with our athletes, and that if we do this, there are no boundaries."
Shriver called the current MENA Games "very important" because more nations were taking part in the event than in the past. "I think we have a stronger leadership group coming: more VIPs and more dignitaries from countries around the region. We have a more developed infrastructure and better programmes."
Shriver said the Games were an indication of how strong the movement had become at the national and international level. "The games are a success if the teams come, if they have good coaching and if they are well trained. In this year's games we have many more athletes who are well trained. They belong to different local programmes that are strong and they have good coaches and competitions back home."
Shriver was not entirely gloomy on MENA's future. "I see very significant growth in this region because I think that if we have political stability here we will unleash enormous energy, skill and intelligence from the organisers. There is a great love of sports in this region, a sense of caring, community and compassion. There is a commitment to wanting to see justice being done. If we could have political stability, I think this will result in massive growth. It will change the region and attract a greater number of athletes."
Shriver declined to compare MENA with other regions. "In Special Olympics we don't evaluate you against someone else but against yourself. Have you done your best? I think that in the last 18 months we have seen new developments in the education of coaches and local programmes developing in the MENA region. We have seen great programmes like SO Egypt and SO Lebanon."
He described SO Lebanon as being "wonderful. Everyday SO Lebanon offers sports opportunities to its athletes. This is a very significant change. SO Lebanon has also contributed to increasing the awareness of a number of families. Many parents attended the opening ceremony and some travelled from far off to join their children. This is a very hopeful step."
Shriver's hopes for the movement's future lay in its growth and its ability to allow more athletes and families to join. "I think our Special Olympics athletes can be a symbol for the whole world. Everywhere you go all around the world you see divisions, separation, people that don't approve of other cultures, countries and conflicts between cultures and religions. Everywhere I go people are asking how can we stop this. I believe our athletes can be an example to the whole world of how to get along, of acceptance, tolerance and understanding.
"The Special Olympics athletes I saw today in the hotel -- everyone gave me a hug. They did not ask whether I was American, Muslim, Christian, Iranian. They all hugged me. This is a model for the whole world. So I hope that our movement, as it grows in number, will also grow in influence and that people will come to see this not only as something for athletes but as an example for the world."
Shriver laid special emphasis on the young. "We are trying to work with young people. We laid special emphasis on asking young people to get involved. You don't come out when you are older; you have to come out right now. Young people can make a difference. You can change the world. Young people are important for us. Health care professionals are also important. These are very important audiences. Beyond them, we must reach government officials. We can not have governments that do not treat our athletes fairly."
Another big challenge, said Shriver, was how to measure and track progress. "How can we measure the quality of the games, family experiences and social acceptance in a community? We are working with our teammates, families and athletes to help us develop a system of measurement. We are also using the Internet to start a new knowledge management system (KMS) where coaches can self-educate themselves."
Shriver had special praise for Lebanon. "The country is very nice. I've enjoyed a lot being here for the first time. I had a wonderful chance to meet Lebanon's president and prime minister. Both have done a lot for SO Lebanon and the MENA Games. I thank them a lot. I also thank all families, volunteers and athletes and officials for such success."
|
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
| ARCHIVES Letter from the Editor Editorial Board Subscription Advertise! |
WEEKLY ONLINE: www.ahram.org.eg/weekly Updated every Saturday at 11.00 GMT, 2pm local time weeklyweb@ahram.org.eg |
 Al-Ahram Organisation |
