Kateryna Yushchenko to Support Ukrainian Athletes at the International Special Summer Olympics 2007 in Shanghai
28 September 2007 11:05
September 28, 2007, the Big Hall of the Ukrainian House Business and Cultural Cooperation Center hosted a joint press conference by the Special Olympics of Ukraine and Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund on Ukrainian national team’s participation in the International Special Summer Olympics 2007 and the start of a long-term partnership between these two bodies.
Among its participants were Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund Kateryna Yushchenko, President of the Ukrainian Special Olympics Academician Serhiy Komisarenko, Olympic champion Liliya Podkopayeva, athletes of the Special Olympics Ukrainian national team, and representatives of the sponsors of the National team.
In her speech Mrs. Yushchenko said that this year the Special Olympics national team enjoys sound support from renowned people, as well as the sponsors. “This means that the Ukrainian community becomes more conscious and responsible. This means that a civil society is being rising in Ukraine, actively helping to meet the challenges of our time instead of waiting for the state to solve all problems,” she said.
“It is high time for us all to realize that over one million people with mental development disorders are living in Ukraine,” Mrs. Yushchenko said. “And if we want to deserve the name of a civilized European nation, we have no moral right to avert our eyes from them and ignore this problem. (…) So let us combine our efforts to create opportunities for this people to live their full lives, be a part of the community, and fulfill themselves.”
Mrs. Yushchenko bade out team victories, success, and unforgettable experience.
“Though the Special Olympics Ukrainian national teams have taken part in every Special Olympics since 1995, this time everything is different,” Mr. Komisarenko said. “From the very foundation of the Special Olympics of Ukraine, never did we have such a powerful support from renowned Ukrainians, the media, companies, and charitable organizations. I truly believe that these Olympics will influence not only their immediate participants, but the Special Olympics movement in Ukraine as a whole.”
After the press conference the team members, their retinue, and Guests of Honor who will support our athletes in Shanghai, left to the Borispil Airport. Among the Guests of Honor was Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko.
The Special Olympics are the world’s biggest program for all-the-year-round trainings and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities. It was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of the President of the United States of America John F. Kennedy. The Special Olympics have become a global movement uniting over 2,500,000 athletes in more than 170 countries.
The Special Olympics should not be confused with the Paralympics Movement. These are two separate organizations, recognized by the World Olympics Committee. The goal of the Special Olympics is involving more individuals with intellectual disabilities and various levels of abilities into sports. The Paralympics are aimed at high achievements and involves athletes with various disabilities, but only on the elite sports level.
The Special Olympics 2007, to be held October 2-11 in Shanghai, China, promises to become the biggest and most outstanding event in the history of the Special Olympics. It will involve over 7,000 athletes from 169 countries, competing in 24 Olympics sports, supported by 3,500 official Special Olympics representatives and 40,000 volunteers. Hundreds of Guests of Honor, representing politics, sports, arts, and business, along with journalists from every continent, will join in the event.
The Special Olympics of Ukraine were officially founded in March 2002, although Ukrainian athletes with intellectual disabilities have been taking part in the Special Olympics and World Games since 1995. Today the Special Olympics of Ukraine are an all-Ukrainian organization involving over 12,000 athletes in 18 Ukraine’s regions.
The Special Olympics 2003 in Doublin
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