The Olympics of life” “

“Life in all its fullness” is the title of the pastoral letter issued by the bishops in Ireland in recent day to mark the approaching 11th “Special Olympics” world summer Games reserved for disabled athletes. Taking part in the Special Olympics will be 7000 mentally handicapped athletes, 2000 coaches, 28,000 family members and 30,000 volunteers. No less than 160 countries will be represented at the games, and the athletes will compete in 18 different sports. It is estimated that there are 10-15 million persons with disabilities of one form or another in Europe, of which mental handicap is the most widespread. The Special Olympics are the most important sports event of 2003, declared by the European Union “European Year of the Disabled”, and this year for the first time ever are being held outside the USA, more precisely in Ireland (21-29 June). “These games – write the bishops – are a strong signal of what can be achieved if the skills and capacities of the human person be turned to account and if we don’t acquiesce in disability. These athletes have much to teach us about motivation and determination”. But we also need to reflect, continues the letter, on the fact that “daily life is not always easy for many people with disabilities. Living with a disability may create a sense of diversity and at times of exclusion”. Hence the importance for the Church to “assist and be close to all those who have to live with disability and their families to ensure that they have the support and help they need. The Church is not complete without the disabled”. “We must be vigilant to ensure they be guaranteed accessible housing and transport, educational opportunity and suitable employment by the public services”. This event must be an occasion to reflect “whether our communities are open to disabled youth and their families and whether they are properly represented in the various councils and movements”. The Special Olympics were founded by the Kennedy family thirty years ago with the aim of developing the various skills of persons with mental handicaps and promoting their integration in society. We discussed the games with Mike Smith , head of the European section of the Special Olympics. What value do the Special Olympics in Dublin have for Europe? “The Special Olympics in Dublin will be the greatest event of its kind at the world level: a symbol of equal opportunities for everyone, but also an occasion to express the simple joy of participating in sport and in life. This is even more important now that we are celebrating the European Year of people with disabilities, which is trying to establish equal rights for the disabled and their full integration in society. The commitment to the social progress of all persons is, and must increasingly become, one of the founding principles of Europe”. What are the main problems and differences between Eastern and Western Europe? “In Western Europe there are more services for the disabled than in Eastern Europe. In the countries of the former Soviet Union there’s still a legacy of profound negligence towards the disabled. Something is changing, but the economic factors don’t help the development of the services the disabled need, including participation in the Special Olympics. Nonetheless, over the last two years we’ve made great progress in Russia and other Eastern European countries”. Any advice to Europe in terms of social policies on disability? “Guaranteeing equal opportunities in education, healthcare and employment for all citizens, including the disabled: that ought to be the strongest and most incisive part of the European Constitution, not only in words but in real services. Even in the case in which rights for disabled persons are safeguarded by the law, there’s still a long way to go to transform them into real services. The mentally handicapped are still very low in the list of social priorities. Organizations like the Special Olympics must continue to add their own voice to all the efforts being made to combat segregation and social exclusion”. What does sport represent in the life of disabled athletes and, as a reflection, in the social context in which they live? “The Special Olympics have demonstrated that sport may bring important benefits to persons with metal impairment: better health, greater capacity for socialization, increased self-confidence, new friendships, etc. Sport may develop capacities that represent a first step towards greater success at school, in work, in life. The impact of the Special Olympics on the families of athletes is enormous. They are filled with pride by the successes of their children, they see them acquire great independence and contribute to a change of attitudes in the communities in which they live”.