Athens today was exceptional; we got to visit Corinthians and Mycenae. However, the most life-changing experience was the Special Olympic Opening Ceremonies. It was truly amazing and more inspiring than any of the other sites we have seen. Not just because I'm a sports nut and I've been an Olympic fan since the dawn of time, but because of what the Special Olympics stood for.
It was a revolution for equality. The goal is to give the opportunity for everyone to compete and feel the power of sports to lift self-esteem and pride. The key word that was reiterated throughout the ceremony was dignity. People with disabilities want to be treated with respect and allowed to participant in all endeavors of life. Timothy Kennedy Shriver spoke on behalf of his mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, about how impossibility is a frame of mind and that the only disadvantage anyone has is not believing in themselves and their god-given abilities. Everyone has a talent and a gift from God. Stevie Wonder gave a moving performance and speech about how God makes no mistakes and that were made perfectly in his eyes.
It warmed my heart to see the parade of athletes walk across the long platform with huge smiles on their faces. In a world that constantly puts them down and makes them feel less about themselves, it's truly revolutionary to create an environment of positivity and support. I absolutely loved hearing every person cheering and clapping for every team and seeing how enthusiastic and genuine they were.
I'm so grateful to be able to witness such an amazing movement. Everyone should have something they are proud of and that makes them feel good about themselves. Eunice Kennedy Shriver really has impacted the world with the founding of the Special Olympics. In it's short amount of time it has flourished and become one of the biggest events world-wide. Attending this event has been one of the best decisions of my life.
No comments:
Post a Comment