ELLIE'S BLOG on Living Well with Disability

Again another summer run for Special Olympics down my street! This is one of many events across our country that have been repeated for 42 years in our country.

Year by year other countries (now 180) around the world started to partipate in the Special Olympic movement for those with intellectual disabilities.   In fact the Special Olympics is fastest growing grass roots volunteer movement on the planet .  They are the world's largest public health organization serving 200,000,000 people with intellectual disabilities (3 percent of the global population).

How has this happened that one women (Eunice Kennedy Shriver) developed a sports program for the intellectually challenged in her backyard to where it is today.  Obviously a total commitment and determination on her part.

But it had to be more than that. And it was to see the joy of a sense of accomplishment on the face of one of the athletes, to watch the athletes determination to work hard to get better, to realize that you didn't have to win, it was the effort you put in that mattered. And then one could see that there was a carryover in these athletes ability to function in the community due to these events. Then gradually society itself began to have a different opinion of people with Intellectual disabilities.

In some ways there is still a long way to go for the intellectually disabled to be fully included in society with equal opportunities for a full and productive life.  But look how far we've come.

                                                    ellie

                  July 18-23, 2010

Nearly 3000  SPECIAL OLYMPIC athletes with up to 30,000 family members, friends and fans will be arriving in Nebraska for the USA NATIONAL GAMES they will be accompanied by 1000 coaches and more than 8,500 volunteers. Some of these athletes will be arriving by way of the Cessna Airlift.

This Airlift is one of the largest civilian airlift's in the world.  160 private jets will be bringing over 800 athletes and coaches to Lincoln Nebraska.  The events honorary chairman is actor Harrison Ford, who was personally flying New Mexico's team to Nebraska.

There will be 13 sporting competitions including basketball, bocce, track and field, softball and flag football .

Here The Flame of Hope is traveling through Ames Iowa on its way to Nebraska for the final leg of the torch run.  There have been 110 police officers from across the nation traveling with the torch.  They will arrive Sunday,July 11 in time for the Opening Ceremony at 3 to 5:30 p.m. U.S.Central Time.

To follow the events and games bookmark this site and check it frequently. There will be pictures and videos of the event for you to see. http://www.specialolympics.org/2010-USA-National-Games-Schedule.aspx 

                              Enjoy.                              ellie

.soccer here...soccer there...soccer(football) everywhere !

Unity Cup Match

A Dream Come True

Unity Cup participants including South African president Jacob Zuma, Special Olympics global ambassador Zhang Ziyi, NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo, various soccer legends and Special Olympics athletes gather for a group photo outside Cape Town Stadium on Friday July 2^nd just after the teams practiced in advance of Saturday's match.

This exciting Unity Cup Event took place at Cape Town stadium on Saturday July 3 just before the World Cup quarterfinal between Germany and Argentina.

And what a game it was. Celebrities, soccer legends and even the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma,took to the field alongside 16 Special Olympics athlete's from all over the world. The two teams - named ?Special Stars? and ?Happiness United? - enjoyed a 20-minute match on the FIFA World Cup? stadium pitch.

Both Coca-Cola and Special Olympics executives hailed this as the beginning of an incredible journey together.  The match ended in a 2-2 draw.  All four goals in the match were scored by special Olympic athletes.  This demonstrates just how talented the soccer players were. Click on the You Tube video to see a great sport played with enthusiasm and skill.

As football (soccer) is the world's most popular sport incorporating it into the Special Olympics is a natural progression. Today more than 20 national football federations across Europe have integrated support of players with intellectual disabilities into their regular activity plans. For more information click onto:

http://www.specialolympics.org/global_football.aspx

Hopefully here in the United States where soccer(football) is not the leading sport we can do the same.

As Ossie Ardiles, Argentinian football legend and Co-Chair, Special Olympics Global Football Advisory Committee said, " Through football we can certainly help these individuals achieve greater things, on and off the field; in turn, they can inspire all of us with their unstoppable spirit."

                                                                                     ellie

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More than 1,500 athletes and coaches from across the state will attend the games of the Special Olympics in Utica this year.

The games begin on Friday June 4 with the final leg of the statewide torch run through downtown Utica. The opening ceremony will be in in the evening at Utica College.

On Saturday June 5 competitions will include aquatics, basketball, bowling, power lifting, gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, and track and field.  These games are open to the public and they are free.

It will be the special day.  If you have never attended a special Olympics event and you are free and in the area- go don't miss it.

For more information and directions to get to Utica and the Special Olympics go to: http://nyso.org/

                                    ellie

This is a don't miss event.  We have no coverage in the USA on the major networks of the Paralympics during the events.

But there is going to be a recap of the highlights this Saturday from 3 to 5 PM ET on NBC  If you already have plans- tape it to watch later.

  NBC did a similar program after the summer Paralympics in Beijing. I watched it with my family they all agreed it was marvelous, inspirational, would not have wanted to miss it.

                                                         ellie