tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13531216256109671912024-03-21T15:41:24.380-04:00From the Playing Field with Tim ShriverTake a journey with me inside the amazing world of Special Olympics and our athletes.Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-88032681451414903072011-02-07T13:40:00.001-05:002011-02-07T13:41:26.511-05:00I've Moved!Wanted to let everyone know that I've moved! I'll be doing all my blogging on the Special Olympics blog, so please come follow me there! <br />
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<a href="http://specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com/">http://specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com</a>Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-62903057797716233892010-12-02T11:25:00.003-05:002010-12-02T11:29:18.748-05:00From Nice to ImportantWhen we speak of the urgency of our work at Special Olympics--of the suffering, injustice, and neglect facing our population--I think sometimes we are not taken seriously. When we argue that sport can change lives by reversing a horrific stigma and creating community will for inclusion, I think some people think we're exaggerating. When we challenge humiliating speech because we believe it leads to degrading and humiliating treatment, I think some people believe we should relax.<br /><br />I hope skeptics will read <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/world/americas/01mexico.html?pagewanted=2">this article</a> and realize that for millions of people with intellectual disabilities, these conditions, as disgusting as they are, are normal. And let us all remember that when we ask, give, or go the extra distance to fight for our athletes, we are fighting for life itself. The stakes are high and if anyone doesn't believe us, ask them to spend a few days in these institutions, half naked, filthy, at risk of rape or lobotomy or worse. Maybe then, they'll understand that a soccer ball isn't about a nice event for "them" but rather about an urgent movement designed to save lives and offer hope and dignity to all of us.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564721459083454169noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-45484735872499705742010-12-01T09:46:00.000-05:002010-12-01T09:46:37.178-05:00Welcome, Ambassadors!Check out <a href="http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/president/index.html" target="_blank">FIFA's Joseph Blatter</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicol%C3%A1s_L%C3%A9oz">CONMEBOL's Dr. Nicolas Leoz</a> and others attending the South American Women’s Championship in Ecuador. They are wearing the Special Olympics armbands that the Special Olympics Ecuador's National Team Captain wears during matches! Also pictured are Special Olympics Ecuador President Hector Cuevas, Ecuador Football Federation President Luis Chiriboga, and Special Olympics athletes. <br />
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Chiriaboga, Leoz and Blatter were <a href="http://twitter.com/SeppBlatter/statuses/6639711900667904" target="_blank">named Special Olympics Ecuador Ambassadors</a> before the final match of the South American Women's Championship between Brasil and Chile on November 21 in Quito! <br />
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<div style="text-align: right; width: 480px;"><embed flashvars="rssFeed=http%3A%2F%2Ffeed1041.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb419%2FTPShriver%2FBlatter%2520and%2520Leoz%2Ffeed.rss" height="360" src="http://static.pbsrc.com/flash/rss_slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://photobucket.com/redirect/album?showShareLB=1" target="_blank"></a></div>Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-51513269292613098252010-11-24T11:42:00.000-05:002010-11-24T11:42:00.467-05:00Thankful for the OpportunityThe Thanksgiving holiday is one of many things - family, giving, food, fun and sport to name a few. It is all those things to me, but it often becomes a holiday of reflection too. So when I came across an email from earlier this year about one of our Special Olympics athletes, Alcino Pereira, I began reflecting on one thing I'm not sure we take enough time to be thankful for - opportunity.<br />
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The opportunity to take on a new challenge; to interview for a job; to sit down at a table with our loved ones and share a meal; or for Alcino, the opportunity to escape, if briefly, the reality of his war torn home country with something as simple as a daily run.<br />
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I first met Alcino in 2007 at our <a href="http://info.specialolympics.org/Special+Olympics+Public+Website/English/Press_Room/Global_news/2007+World+Games/Alcino+Pereira.htm" target="_blank">World Summer Games in Shanghai</a>. His home country of East Timor (<a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tt.html" target="_blank">officially Timor-Leste</a>) had just started a Special Olympics program. Alcino was their first athlete, and their lone representative at the Games. Though he does not speak, I'll never forget the excitement his eyes and body language conveyed at having the opportunity to be the first person to represent his country at a World Games.<br />
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I remember Alcino finished last in his competition. I also remember a stadium full of people rising to their feet as he entered the home stretch of his 10,000 meter run, cheering him on as he crossed the finish line. <br />
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Today, I'm thankful for the opportunity to know Alcino and to share the email and pictures below to give you the opportunity to know him and share his story.<br />
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<blockquote>Dear Tim,<br />
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Attached are photos of Alcino, who participated in the Timor Leste Marathon held in Dili on June 20.<br />
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Alcino, who completed the 42km run in more than 4 hours, was personally congratulated and recognized by both the Prime Minister and President of Timor Leste.<br />
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Best wishes<br />
Simon</blockquote><br />
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<div style="width:480px;text-align:right;"><embed width="480" height="360" src="http://static.pbsrc.com/flash/rss_slideshow.swf" flashvars="rssFeed=http%3A%2F%2Ffeed1041.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb419%2FTPShriver%2FAlcino%2520Pereira%2Ffeed.rss" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" /><a href="http://photobucket.com/redirect/album?showShareLB=1" target="_blank"></a></div>Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-50863623283246012422010-11-22T09:38:00.004-05:002010-11-22T09:47:21.426-05:00Inspiration from NepalEDITOR'S NOTE: Tim got an email with some photos from Special Olympics Nepal recently that he wanted to make sure we share. Below is a note from their Chairman, and the photos. Enjoy!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote>Please enjoy some of our recent various competitions and programs photographs where dignitories from the Minister to various government and social high level personalities were present. This year alone, despite political, economical and social problems and crisis in Nepal we have done more than three dozen various levels of competiton and programs! With best regards.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Dr. Jyoti Sherchan<br />Chairman, SO Nepal<br /></blockquote></div><br /><div style="width: 480px; text-align: right;"><embed src="http://static.pbsrc.com/flash/rss_slideshow.swf" flashvars="rssFeed=http%3A%2F%2Ffeed1041.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb419%2FTPShriver%2FNepal%2520Athletes%2Ffeed.rss" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="480" height="360"></embed><a href="http://photobucket.com/redirect/album?showShareLB=1" target="_blank"></a></div>Ryan Eadeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317885627222504905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-29714210324307886342010-10-27T08:58:00.003-04:002010-10-27T09:38:05.588-04:00The Architects of Change at Special OlympicsBe an Architect of Change. The theme of the conference my sister <a href="http://www.womensconference.org/maria-shriver/">Maria</a> organized this week in Long Beach, which served as a call to action for women all over the world to realize that they have the power to make a difference. They don't need to wait for anything (especially not a man!) to make changes in the world.<br /><br />I couldn't help but think of how powerful this same theme is for Special Olympics. Our entire movement--over 4 million athletes and volunteers all over the world--is based on that simple message: you can make a difference. Welcome others. Give. Play. Unify.<br /><br />It’s no surprise that many conference participants were also great supporters of Special Olympics. Susan Saint James, <a href="http://www.womensconference.org/anne-sweeney/">Anne Sweeney</a>, <a href="http://www.womensconference.org/rafer-betsy-johnson/">Rafer Johnson</a>, <a href="http://www.womensconference.org/phil-knight/">Phil Knight</a>, <a href="http://www.womensconference.org/dr-jill-biden/">Dr. Jill Biden</a>, <a href="http://www.womensconference.org/martha-beck/">Martha Beck</a>, <a href="http://www.womensconference.org/dr-mehmet-oz/">Dr. Mehmet Oz</a>—they’re all on our team. And they were there challenging the world to listen to Maria and to each other--as a massive team of positive energy shouting "whatever it is, go for it!"<br /><br />I was particularly touched when Martha Beck told me how amazing Special Olympics is in her eyes--a tribute to the power of sport to awaken people to the presence of a positive energy and a trusting community. And then to hear <a href="http://www.womensconference.org/deepak-chopra/">Deepak Chopra</a> and <a href="http://www.womensconference.org/nicholas-kristof/">Nicholas Kristof</a> (men who get it!) both echo the message of social and emotional learning and Project Unify: the way to change the destructive patterns of fear and coercion and stigma is through education--engaging young people in values that are open, centered on human dignity, focused on equality.<br /><br />Those are messages for all of us. The highlight was of course, Maria. She spoke for all of us in reminding us to recognize that it’s time--time to follow our life's calling.<br /><br />What a joy to be working with so many people in education and sports who are pursuing such wonderful callings as real and powerful Architects of Change.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564721459083454169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-16004649487226539622010-10-08T14:30:00.005-04:002010-10-08T15:19:53.529-04:00President Obama Signs Rosa's Law!Today, I attended a reception at the White House with Special Olympics athletes to celebrate the enactment of <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:s2781enr.txt.pdf">Rosa’s Law</a>. The bill’s passage is a huge victory for everyone, not just people with intellectual disabilities, as it acknowledges the power of words to separate, alienate, and ultimately dehumanize people when they are categorized as ‘other.’ While we still have so far to go in eliminating the use of the r-word in society and in showing others the extent to which demeaning language can hurt, we celebrate this tremendous milestone.<br /><br />While some might scoff at this change as mere political correctness, I wish you could have been at the reception with these Special Olympics athletes and have heard their many stories of pain and isolation that resulted from the use of demeaning language. Although you couldn’t be there today to hear it from the athletes themselves, <a href="http://davehingsburger.blogspot.com/2010/08/people-who-are.html">so many others</a> have articulated the hurt and isolation they have experienced, including <a href="http://www.specialolympics.org/athlete_leadership.aspx">Special Olympics Global Messenger</a> <a href="http://community.specialolympics.org/service/displayDiscussionThreads.kickAction?as=82244&w=205164&d=193850&ac=new">Frank Stephens</a>:<br /><br />"So, what's wrong with "retard"? I can only tell you what it means to me and people like me when we hear it. It means that the rest of you are excluding us from your group. We are something that is not like you and something that none of you would ever want to be. We are something outside the "in" group. We are someone that is not your kind."<br /><br />Today is one victory in an ongoing battle and we ask you to join us March 2, 2011 to <a href="http://www.r-word.org/">Spread the Word to End the Word</a>.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564721459083454169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-56265111130548316142010-10-05T18:07:00.000-04:002010-10-05T18:07:18.534-04:00Project Unify Colorado Leads the Way in Transforming School and Community ClimateDuring my trip to Colorado last weekend, I had the opportunity to meet with the Special Olympics Colorado Youth Activation Committee. These young leaders shared wonderful insights with me on the importance of creating school and community environments that are characterized by authentic acceptance and inclusion. I hope you will enjoy this slide show and I hope it will encourage you to continue to enact change in your own schools and communities!<br />
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<div style="width:480px; text-align: center;"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://w1041.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw1041.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb419%2FTPShriver%2FColorado+Youth+Leaders%2Fb0da2398.pbw" height="360" width="480"></embed></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564721459083454169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-40820466359766230012010-10-05T17:13:00.008-04:002010-10-05T17:56:51.314-04:00The Sie Foundation: Eliminating Health Disparities for People With Down Syndrome<span style="font-family: arial;">Last weekend, I was thrilled to be honored by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation at their annual gala in Denver, Colorado. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation is a fantastic organization, founded by <a href="http://www.coloradojetset.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10&Itemid=11">Anna and John Sie and family</a>, that supports the <a href="http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/medicalschool/institutes/lindacrnic/Pages/lindacrnic.aspx/crnicbio.htm">Linda Cynic Institute for Down Syndrome at the University of Colorado</a>, which is dedicated to leading research, education and clinical care for people with Down syndrome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">The event was spearheaded by Michelle Sie, the dynamic and visionary Executive Director of the Foundation. Michelle is an incredible advocate for her daughter Sophia, who has Down syndrome, and the millions of others with Down syndrome around the world that their research benefits. Over 1,200 people turned out for a<a href="http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_16252143"> spectacular event</a> -- Jamie Foxx and his sister Diondra Dixon (who has Down syndrome) stole the show, as did Quincy Jones, who presented me with an award in recognition of our work at Special Olympics.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">I wasn’t worthy of either receiving the award (the credit belongs to our staff, athletes, volunteers, sponsors and countless others who make our movement happen) or having it be presented by a living legend like Quincy, who has been a pioneer not only in music but also in his support of people with intellectual disabilities!! Here’s a clip of some of the event footage… </span><br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gPRHwm8iRlA?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gPRHwm8iRlA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564721459083454169noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-51352642973821103542010-09-27T17:34:00.007-04:002010-09-27T17:58:08.926-04:00Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day Media Highlights<span style="font-weight: bold;">Editor's Note: </span>Tim is in the midst of a very hectic travel schedule right now but wanted to make sure we shared with you a select few of the media highlights from the first EKS Day! So check out the great stories from around the world below!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0ZpBy1NARgs/TKESDLOok9I/AAAAAAAAAk0/dw-dc_PxBDo/s1600/EKSDay_Profile_Pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0ZpBy1NARgs/TKESDLOok9I/AAAAAAAAAk0/dw-dc_PxBDo/s320/EKSDay_Profile_Pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521714463896015826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />EKS Day Media Highlights:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0927/1224279760646.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">27 Sept – Irish Times (Ireland) - Special Olympics founder honoured </span></a><br />On Saturday, Ms. Davis celebrated the memory of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver at Farmleigh House in Dublin. It was one of a number of events held worldwide to mark the inaugural Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day. Ms Kennedy Shriver’s son Mark also attended the Dublin event.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-21/1285479915138240.xml&coll=5" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">26 Sept – NJ.com (New Jersey, USA) - Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day</span></a><br />Special Olympics, the organization Eunice Kennedy Shriver began 42 years ago to provide athletic and other opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities, paid tribute to its founder in celebrations here and around the world yesterday. The local ceremony hosted by Special Olympics New Jersey featured placement of a time capsule in a memorial brick wall in front of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Sports & Training Center on Princess Road.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/42693" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">26 Sept – New Sabah Times (Malaysia) – Over 100 nations celebrate Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day</span></a><br />Over 100 countries worldwide celebrated the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day (EKS) yesterday, and in Malaysia, the Special Olympics Sabah (SOS) was given the honour to organise a Camp Shriver at Taman Awan Teluk Likas.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.namibiasport.com.na/node/14362" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">26 Sept – Namibia Sport (Namibia) – Football for Hope Centre inaugurated </span></a><br />The Katutura Football for Hope Centre was officially inaugurated on Saturday, September 25 with a high powered guest list in attendance including Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, Dr John Dow Junior of Special Olympics Africa, Jan Coetzee of Street Football World and Inge Zaamwani Kamwi of Special Olympics Namibia.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article794355.ece" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">25 Sept – The Hindu (India) - World remembers Eunice Kennedy Shriver today </span></a><br />Special Olympics Bharat will celebrate founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver on Saturday, by organizing a host of activities and special runs.<br /><br /><a href="http://mms.tveyes.com/Expand.asp?aln=8337409&id=174934&dt=09%2f25%2f2010+10%3a26%3a28+PM&u=57838" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">25 Sept - Special Olympics and Michelle Kwan Skating Clinic</span></a><br />Fox 25 News (Boston, Mass, USA)<br />Michelle Kwan: “We're getting a bunch of Special Olympians, parents, volunteers getting the community together, getting on the ice, and this is happening all over the world”<br /><br /><a href="http://mms.tveyes.com/Expand.asp?aln=8629328&id=92953&dt=09%2f25%2f2010+11%3a07%3a48+PM&u=57838" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">25 Sept - Stadium Renamed for Eunice Kennedy Shriver</span></a><br />News 10 NBC (Rochester, NY, USA)<br />"The stadium formerly known as the Special Olympics stadium was re-named today in honor of Eunice Kennedy Shriver”<br /><br /><a href="http://mms.tveyes.com/Expand.asp?aln=2763539&id=174120&dt=09%2f25%2f2010+09%3a14%3a30+AM&u=57838" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">25 Sept - Eunice Kennedy Shriver Legacy Lives On</span></a><br />NBC News 4 Today (Wash. D.C., USA)<br />She may be gone but Eunice Kennedy Shriver's legacy lives on. Today her memory is being honored with the declaration of the first-ever Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day.Ryan Eadeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317885627222504905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-18358964788253012532010-09-25T17:33:00.000-04:002010-09-25T17:33:25.294-04:00Rosa's Law is a Good First StepOver the past two years, youth activists within the <a href="http://www.r-word.org/" target="_blank">Spread the Word to End the Word</a> campaign have secured nearly 140,000 online pledges from schools and communities across the country, setting off a national conversation about humiliating speech and the language of discrimination. It is not hard to see the fingerprints of thousands of youth activists, so athletes, and the families and communities on the passage of Rosa's Law this week, which is now on its way to the President for his signature.<br />
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I know I join millions of Americans in hoping for a quick signature by the President, and I also join them in recognizing that changing statutory language is not the end. The debate over language is only an opening to a discussion about attitude change and authentic inclusion. Our part at Special Olympics is promoting unity on the playing field and in communities through sport. We're committed to engaging millions more in the U.S. and around the world.<br />
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Critics who say that changing words can not solve problems are right. But it's a good start.<br />
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Congratulations to Senators Barbara Mikulski and Michael Enzi, and all the 72 co-sponsors across party lines, on this important accomplishment. Rosa's law is an historic triumph of self-advocacy and youth advocacy on behalf of our country's most vulnerable. This may be a first, but it won't be the last!Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-71243056800068680832010-09-25T07:25:00.001-04:002010-09-25T07:25:00.687-04:00Happy Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day!I want to share with all of you a joint message from my brother Anthony and I that went out to the Special Olympics movement and Best Buddies International.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KB1IlW5NYSIZxsuVKf1Bcu0uqea0NrezJrgi0oxAsKF_nUEBCpOM1NQ9XEgojNaQs6F3YovCeVuKqSY8LUFS8GhQcE3rrfPooXgadSxFvQt201YsddOwAJuHojLfuwMlXPmJ1HZ2ZqE/s1600/EKSheader.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KB1IlW5NYSIZxsuVKf1Bcu0uqea0NrezJrgi0oxAsKF_nUEBCpOM1NQ9XEgojNaQs6F3YovCeVuKqSY8LUFS8GhQcE3rrfPooXgadSxFvQt201YsddOwAJuHojLfuwMlXPmJ1HZ2ZqE/s1600/EKSheader.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Dear Friends,<br />
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On behalf of Special Olympics and Best Buddies, thank you for joining us today in celebrating Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day. We are thrilled about the countless ways athletes and buddies, volunteers, and friends of Special Olympics and Best Buddies have joined together to perform "Acts" of unity and inclusion around the world in honor of our mother. This day is more than just a tribute to her, it is a tribute to the difference you are making in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, and to the future you are building where all people are accepted, regardless of ability.<br />
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As we celebrate today, we thought these words from her would be a special inspiration to you:<br />
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<blockquote><b><i>“There is no joy like the joy of unleashing the human spirit. There is no laughter like the laughter of those who are happy with others. There is no purpose more noble than to build communities of acceptance for all. This is our glory.” </i></b></blockquote><br />
Thank you again for your contribution. We hope you will visit our website <a href="http://www.eksday.org/">www.eksday.org</a> and view the "Acts" of unity that so many have performed around the world today.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtXo4956MXBmt56u4YSMPgc72T2Vh_VFw12XaHWVtABokUNhRCvM_BDKRUlNRsge96WBMhZ3K6bi7RW2odwPLcCvVblyEx_usYUUTOTZLCsvF0B_2mmxPq24xwFEJWfxFhqAv1bjQp70/s1600/Signatures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtXo4956MXBmt56u4YSMPgc72T2Vh_VFw12XaHWVtABokUNhRCvM_BDKRUlNRsge96WBMhZ3K6bi7RW2odwPLcCvVblyEx_usYUUTOTZLCsvF0B_2mmxPq24xwFEJWfxFhqAv1bjQp70/s1600/Signatures.jpg" /></a></div>Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-85653714649216833642010-09-24T13:51:00.003-04:002010-09-24T14:00:02.531-04:00In One Athlete, Lay a Movement's Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicASwEZ9DWO5jE3n4Xienv7i-OTl_C7VczUmnYCnFkGHGyWkH-FeIEEPRfpgYAfvPJju8T2y8XQYtDE4hd0mpI4as0QlznBK6OxYCX8oTFd36r8POeI6kHRVPoRQpOcnHJCDcFfvlqxDM/s1600/table+tennis1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicASwEZ9DWO5jE3n4Xienv7i-OTl_C7VczUmnYCnFkGHGyWkH-FeIEEPRfpgYAfvPJju8T2y8XQYtDE4hd0mpI4as0QlznBK6OxYCX8oTFd36r8POeI6kHRVPoRQpOcnHJCDcFfvlqxDM/s320/table+tennis1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I had a chance to meet an extraordinary athlete today at the table tennis venue at the <a href="http://www.specialolympics.org/2010_China_National_Games.aspx" target="_blank">China National Games</a> from Hu He Hao Te, Mongolia. He is a shining example of our future. Everyone could see his high level of skill, and his mother told me a story of change and passion in her son. Guo Kun Fu started playing table tennis at 12 after having to quit soccer due to many injuries (he is now 22). It was very apparent to me that he has the first and most important ingredient for success: passion for the game.<br />
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When left school at 18, Kun Fu's mother was prepared to quit her job to create a place where he could live and work; to her enormous joy, this was not necessary. As part of the legacy of the <a href="http://www.specialolympics.org/video_opening_ceremony.aspx" target="_blank">2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games</a>, the government opened a sunshine center in her neighborhood; complete with job training, skill development, and table tennis, making it possible for Kun Fu to take his game to the next level. At the sunshine center, he practices 1-2 hours day and up to 4 hours on the weekends. It is no surprise that his health is good, confidence has exploded, and his table tennis is first rate.<br />
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He has won two silver medals at the China National Games. His mother explained to me that he has started to understand the difference between the gold silver and bronze medals and is now determined to get a gold! His mother said the gold has provided extra motivation and she has seen improvement in her son even at these games. <br />
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Kun Fu's story has all the ingredients of our future, focus on rigorous and daily training, a powerful advocate in his mother, and an inclusive and supportive community.<br />
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Some day, every Special Olympics athlete will have this same story!Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-73773413265990384222010-09-24T13:40:00.000-04:002010-09-24T13:40:19.132-04:00Continuing to Harvest New Opportunities in ChinaLast night, I attended the “Mid-Autumn Festival” with Special Olympics athletes competing in the 5th annual <a href="http://www.specialolympics.org/2010_China_National_Games.aspx" target="_blank">China National Games</a>. This celebration, a national holiday in China, takes place on the autumnal equinox, the night of the year when the moon is at its fullest and roundest. It is a celebration of harvest time and an occasion for feasting, and I cannot think of a more fitting time to celebrate all of the accomplishments of the Special Olympics Program in China and the “harvest” of new programs and facilities that have been created for our athletes here.<br />
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In Fuzhou alone, the number of Special Olympics athletes has increased ten-fold from 2,000 to 20,000 in the past two years, thanks in large part to the construction the <a href="http://www.specialolympics2010.org/web/contents/81/779.html" target="_blank">Fujian Sports Management Center for the Disabled</a>. Another enduring legacy of these games is the construction of over 130 “sunshine homes” in the Fujian Province, which provide education and employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. The changing perceptions of people within Chinese society is also evident in the recent creation of “Special Love,” a feature length film created in honor of the China National Games, which challenges traditional stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities by portraying the transformational relationship of a young Chinese professional and a boy with intellectual disabilities and their mutual interest in basketball.<br />
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Throughout China, these games have undoubtedly encouraged greater acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities, and this year alone, Special Olympics China is slated to reach over 1 million athletes. And yet, I am reminded of how much more work there is to be done in improving the quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities in China and achieving their full inclusion and empowerment in education, employment, and society. Our movement is characterized by a restless dissatisfaction with the status quo, and while we applaud SO China for the tremendous strides in the past few years, and we look forward to the continued progress toward greater acceptance and inclusion.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmsKmcyKwSRCRhl4Q1hzl16Szuxonu1BsF7I-csUTdZFPzI7BpsEA0ADsthdg5L4I5AS0rc0P8PRUOwUTfLcbHR-jtsxM5wiQftCgweKyBem4uEILUVlJ5B3sI-oOa0hBbFufv_hbRpI/s1600/300x200-China-National-Games-2010-Youth-Summit-Representatives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILKVozwXFP2Fq9GOUIX-RLnO8S4S1quiATEaFPSB8v15XeSVcz1Zyby3De1cAnG-td60DfpkuhuyegWPV-Kq3YWlLouBs9PXFuB6hq3ih03SThrbkddVMe4ZgRCSq6vcFnMSxlbaKyow/s1600/300x200-SO-visits-Fujian-Provincial-Sports-Management-Center-for-the-Disabled-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ilWK0P2ByoKrUPuAJ8_hAYJv07su8uetnhth4rgUx0TYPCeJfzaCCSPAtWrp00nXSoDVU_0iGR5DqP3SIDx6U5yJ31h9Rllr2dH9DxRWHcx7QDeZ2AoXt09gQ7Rteu5mi0KcDltFejo/s1600/300x200-China-National-Games-2010-Youth-Summit-Tim-Shriver-Signs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ilWK0P2ByoKrUPuAJ8_hAYJv07su8uetnhth4rgUx0TYPCeJfzaCCSPAtWrp00nXSoDVU_0iGR5DqP3SIDx6U5yJ31h9Rllr2dH9DxRWHcx7QDeZ2AoXt09gQ7Rteu5mi0KcDltFejo/s1600/300x200-China-National-Games-2010-Youth-Summit-Tim-Shriver-Signs.jpg" /></a></div>Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-86012143173781775372010-09-24T06:25:00.000-04:002010-09-24T06:25:24.398-04:00Thank You Gert Boyle and Columbia Sportswear!Look what our friends at Columbia Sportswear have done! I visited a "Sunshine School" for people with intellectual disabilities in Fuzhou this afternoon and all of the students were outfitted with Columbia Sportswear t-shirts that were donated by our generous and longtime friends, the Boyles. Check out the picture below to see just how far and wide the support of the Columbia Sportswear team, especially Gert and her son Tim, reaches around the world. Thank you for your wonderful support!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hkXW8Uk1JE4a2CPvI74iSPx8KevdS5TV5EVTe09OsgwrZ8NIbBOxvlZ0l-tdmDHV36YkoqPePj2akEGClN3tEZ1QvoZ2aF-b8j2nTt8xyrm9ZbcBSmU1EdgLbP6Z25ztEJdK3pYikAY/s1600/Columbia-China.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hkXW8Uk1JE4a2CPvI74iSPx8KevdS5TV5EVTe09OsgwrZ8NIbBOxvlZ0l-tdmDHV36YkoqPePj2akEGClN3tEZ1QvoZ2aF-b8j2nTt8xyrm9ZbcBSmU1EdgLbP6Z25ztEJdK3pYikAY/s320/Columbia-China.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-18401655419168848872010-09-20T16:23:00.002-04:002010-09-20T16:29:49.314-04:00A New Paradigm is EmergingMeeting President <a href="http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1983/walesa-bio.html" target="_blank">Lech Walesa</a> in Poland these week was like touching history. His presence at the Games was an unmistakable message for our athletes that they are the vanguard of a new, powerful social movement.<br />
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During my visit to the Polish Parliament buildings in Warsaw today with our youth summit, I saw the 22 points the shipyard workers submitted to the communist government to protest its rule. They were painted by hand on salvaged plywood from the shipyard. There was no sophisticated PR roll-out, no elaborate graphics, just raw determination and a relentless passion for, and a deep belief in, the quality of the human spirit. Those were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Solidarity" target="_blank">the ingredients Walesa used</a> to topple one of the most powerful regimes the world has seen. Needless to say, these are the same gifts our athletes use to topple age-old barriers and stubborn indifference. <br />
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But what was equally important was Mr. Walesa's comments at a Games event, "The age of blocks and ideologies is over." He went on to suggest a new paradigm is emerging, but it is our athletes that most understand this paradigm - our athletes understand that relationships are central to social justice. The new paradigm puts unity and community at the top of the world's agenda.<br />
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I can feel the spirit of Walesa as the baton of leadership is handed off to the athletes of Special Olympics. And they may be able to slim down the 22 points to 2: Get in the Game and Play United!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZATEnMUeu3JiaxeuYlltGaKSVYcZid_yDTqL-KHAL8Yww1NACpcPBUBak4tlcs8gS2SbXEYPAhPX7n_Pk1raRWRvW18FbeKFKr1bxJC7a2TgLjBBSFzWksRGyHGV0Jg-NPlnb2UhMOo/s320/Tim+and+President+Walesa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to former President of Poland, and the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">hero of 'Solidarity' Mr. Lech Walesa for your support! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-71853843684567033192010-09-20T15:40:00.000-04:002010-09-20T15:40:02.929-04:00Share the Experience of Special Olympics!There's so much going on here in Warsaw for the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games, I wanted to make sure you get a chance to see for yourself. You can see some of the activities on the ground in my <a href="http://twitter.com/timshriver" TARGET="_blank">Twitter feed</a>, and follow the Games on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ELIOS2010" TARGET="_blank">their Facebook page</a>. But you have to check out all of these amazing photos being captured by Adam Nurkiewicz. There are one or two below, be sure to check out his <a href="http://www.photoshelter.com/gallery-list/V0000U5h8pdPnwI0" TARGET="_blank">website and galleries</a>. More must see stuff on You Tube embedded below, straight from the amazing Opening Ceremony of the Games!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQoq3wAG-mW8ByCJ4OP0EMRfg0FEFg8zXEjv3kaGcqwpupP2wtz2KRUyOV5UnzDG9pbLK_wNvVTXXjgOnqedTY8L78TSB1Hz51_sPu51e5u9a9-r9j9bQ6hxl2qTEfmDK_Ql8GggIKxg/s1600/ELIOS+2010+-+ELIOS+2010_1285010810875.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQoq3wAG-mW8ByCJ4OP0EMRfg0FEFg8zXEjv3kaGcqwpupP2wtz2KRUyOV5UnzDG9pbLK_wNvVTXXjgOnqedTY8L78TSB1Hz51_sPu51e5u9a9-r9j9bQ6hxl2qTEfmDK_Ql8GggIKxg/s200/ELIOS+2010+-+ELIOS+2010_1285010810875.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<object height="306" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ElexbKySfHU?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ElexbKySfHU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="306"></embed></object><br />
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<object width="500" height="306"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jRioZkj5MeQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jRioZkj5MeQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="306"></embed></object>Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-87139714265851396302010-09-18T13:07:00.000-04:002010-09-18T13:07:49.992-04:00A Healthy PartnershipWhat a thrill it was to sign an agreement this morning with the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (<a href="http://www.ifapa.biz/"target="_blank">IFAPA</a>). We are so excited for this new partnership with 30 of Europe's leading experts on physical education, who have spent their careers understanding the health of Special Olympics athletes. They will be a tremendous help to us as we consider new ways to develop the abilities of our athletes through the creation of a new sports training program.<br />
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The best suggestion that came out of this session was to turn off the elevators of our 32 story hotel. Even though the person making this suggestion was on the sixth floor, it was a great reminder of the countless, simple opportunities we have every day to improve our fitness. I am thrilled that these experts and health practitioners will be partnering with us to advance sports training and competition for our athletes!Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-5592869060975191542010-09-15T16:00:00.000-04:002010-09-15T09:32:57.958-04:00I want to share with you this wonderful song and tribute to my mother, written by Michael Sarver, which debuted at the Opening Ceremonies of the U.S. National Games this summer. I hope it will encourage you to carry on her legacy and work for people with intellectual disabilities! <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GJBvdIcCHT8?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GJBvdIcCHT8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564721459083454169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-80670923833352176552010-09-15T09:19:00.004-04:002010-09-15T11:14:34.336-04:002013 World Winter Games in Korea<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:85%;" >http://www.specialolympics.org/Shriver-Announces-Korea-2013-Games.aspx<br /><br /><br />My sincere gratitude is extended to Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner, my fellow Board Directors, who are in Seoul, Korea today to announce the location of the next Special Olympics World Winter Games. My brother-in-law, Governor Schwarzenegger, and actress Zhang Ziyi were also present for this amazing announcement. We are so excited that Korea will help us unite the world in 2013!</span><br /><br />http://www.specialolympics.org/Korea_Host_World_Winter_Games.aspxAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564721459083454169noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-63774637697626206612010-09-10T08:31:00.004-04:002010-09-10T08:31:00.428-04:00What is Your Act of Unity?The first ever Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day is happening on September 25th and we need your help to reach 100,000 <a href="http://www.specialolympics.org/eunice_kennedy_shriver_acts.aspx">Acts of Unity</a>! Watch this great PSA narrated by the incomparable Robin Roberts from “Good Morning America” and go to <a href="http://www.eksday.org/">www.eksday.org</a> to learn more. And stay tuned for some great social media tools that we’re sharing to help you spread the word about EKS Day!<br />
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<object width="504" height="306"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aXB9D3Nyx1A?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aXB9D3Nyx1A?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="504" height="306"></embed></object>Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-38224431309286616602010-09-09T16:18:00.000-04:002010-09-09T16:18:12.835-04:00The Road to HappinessWhat makes us happy? In recent decades, researchers in psychology and economics have started using the tools of their profession to develop sophisticated, reliable models to answer this ageless question across countries and through time.<br />
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The emergence of positive psychology in the 1970s resulted from a desire among psychologists to emphasize individual strength and virtue in a field that had traditionally focused on treating mental illnesses and addressing emotional deficits. Since then, positive psychologists have made a lot of progress in identifying the things that bring us happiness. They have found that we experience happiness in many ways, through our emotional orientation to the past, present, and future; through the activities in which we are engaged; and in our ability to use our personal strengths and talents in work, leisure, relationships, and to contribute to something greater than ourselves.<br />
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Paralleling this development in psychology was a similar movement in the field of economics. Beginning in the 1970s, researchers started to find some truth to the axiom that “money doesn’t buy happiness” when they discovered that that nation’s level of happiness increases more slowly once it reaches a certain level of wealth. As a result, many economists believe measures of happiness complement measure of income or wealth by providing a more holistic gauge of well-being and life satisfaction.<br />
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Yesterday, one of my longtime friends, Dr. Elizabeth Dykens, Professor of Psychology and Human Development at Vanderbilt University and Co-Director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities, led a wonderful discussion at Special Olympics about how we can use the tools of positive psychology to study the happiness of people with intellectual disabilities. She is interested in learning the ways in which people with intellectual disabilities find happiness, hope, and contentment and live engaged lives with their families and communities.<br />
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So many times people with intellectual disabilities are defined by negatives—what they do not have or cannot do relative to others—causing many of us to forget that people with intellectual disabilities can be happy, lead meaningful lives, and bring happiness and fulfillment to the lives of others. In fact many studies note that having a family member with an intellectual disability can help us to lead richer, more meaningful lives, teach us patience, tolerance, and make us more able to accept differences with others.<br />
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My own experience suggests that millions of people with intellectual disabilities around the world lead engaged and happy lives, and find tremendous joy and meaning in relationships with family and friends. You don’t have to be a researcher to know this to be true.<br />
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What is your road to happiness?Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-24666681104565048652010-08-05T12:28:00.000-04:002010-08-05T12:28:08.431-04:00Special Olympics Camp Shriver Is Open!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hFIW1Er9Yw9Fa2B4JpxfSP3dI_sB9DvcP5oDShe7mj_5hdKOVfMPr6ABJcxr97BdWgaszna5k4MAnP1T0ALWf4_XayquZ1Q-vQkpvLO1qfAw7D-4b5GQmaoE08oBcNTORQeXa2s2b-Q/s1600/Football+Drill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hFIW1Er9Yw9Fa2B4JpxfSP3dI_sB9DvcP5oDShe7mj_5hdKOVfMPr6ABJcxr97BdWgaszna5k4MAnP1T0ALWf4_XayquZ1Q-vQkpvLO1qfAw7D-4b5GQmaoE08oBcNTORQeXa2s2b-Q/s400/Football+Drill.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There is nowhere on earth where playing games, feeling healthy, gaining confidence, and having fun is more important. And there are no campers more inspiring than those at Camp Haiti. Wherever you are, send out a cheer! Special Olympics in Haiti is up and running!Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-90760720826008509362010-07-20T11:50:00.002-04:002010-07-20T11:57:57.156-04:00Changing the World One Smile at a TimeI'm always blown away anytime I get to visit our <a href="http://www.specialolympics.org/healthy_athletes.aspx"target="_blank">Healthy Athletes</a> venue and at these 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games I was particularly in awe of the amazing men and women of the <a href="http://www.nedental.org/" target="_blank">Nebraska Dental Association</a> who are among so many of the health professionals VOLUNTEERING their time to screen and treat our athletes - for free! I got the opportunity to chat with Dr. Jim Jenkins and I wanted to share our conversation below. You can also <a href="http://www.nedental.org/about_us/news.html?news_item=7551&db_item=news&PHPSESSID=fplpfsveiqibv8lsut74c14mk1" target="_blank">read his letter</a> to his volunteer staff about this amazing clinic.<br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/J2-9M13m45U&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/J2-9M13m45U&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353121625610967191.post-59508936772352471382010-07-18T18:04:00.000-04:002010-07-18T18:04:20.758-04:00Poem by Anthony MarabellaWaiting to march into Opening Ceremony at 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games, with our Wyoming delegation, I was approached by Special Olympics Massachusetts athlete Anthony Marabella (pictured with me below) who wrote the following poem in honor of my mother:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESUf4bUdDIEyV6i-YHnEwxJCnYv3XX-AJY3wdhihMWbv4wK5JolbUjE3PhTrxlY3FCX3-QpJMvhVtDw_U2dRS-cooG_QJZbNLIla6JXP66-0uz7vjC4dHT0497xeBjftFZ16r38D23QU/s1600/Tim-Poem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESUf4bUdDIEyV6i-YHnEwxJCnYv3XX-AJY3wdhihMWbv4wK5JolbUjE3PhTrxlY3FCX3-QpJMvhVtDw_U2dRS-cooG_QJZbNLIla6JXP66-0uz7vjC4dHT0497xeBjftFZ16r38D23QU/s320/Tim-Poem.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><b>My poem to Mrs. Shriver</b></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><b>by Anthony Marabella </b></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="x_MsoNormal">There are not enough words that truly say how much you have touched my life and heart in a special way</div><div class="x_MsoNormal">For your helpfulness and commitment to people with disabilities throughout various communities nation and worldwide</div><div class="x_MsoNormal">You were the designer, the leader and the guide</div><div class="x_MsoNormal">Throughout everything that was done success and smiles came, along with so many friendships and the flame</div><div class="x_MsoNormal">We stand together here and we are proud</div><div class="x_MsoNormal">Our voices are heard and they are loud</div><div class="x_MsoNormal">With love and gratitude in all we do now do</div><div class="x_MsoNormal">For this we shall do for you</div><div class="x_MsoNormal">The one who made a dream come true</div><div class="x_MsoNormal">Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver that person is you</div><div class="x_MsoNormal">Thank you for letting all dreams be achieved</div><div class="x_MsoNormal">Inside of everyone when they’ve believed</div>Tim Shriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14523185807135819285noreply@blogger.com3