EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Hosts Special Olympics Exhibition

Ján Figel', European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth opened "Changing Lives", a multimedia exhibition by Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia on September 1.  The exhibition (August 31-September 2) showcased the power of sports in positively transforming the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The exhibition chronicles the lives of Special Olympics athletes from across the 27 member states of the European Union, including 18 year old Raman Mystranov from Latvia.  Special Olympics helped the gifted footballer find an outlet for his talent, that allowed him a sense of pride and dignity.  Mystranov competed in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. 

Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia has made an application to secure 15 million Euros from the European Commision to financially support the development of Special Olympics across the 27 Member States, to financially support the development of the 2010 Special Olympics European Games in Warsaw, Poland and the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.

"In communities across Europe and Eurasia, Special Olympics happens every day," said Mary Davis, Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia.  "There are approximately 26.5 million individuals with intellectual disabilities in Europe and Central Asia and our national programs serve just over half a million.  So with the right resources, there is huge potential for growth," she concluded.

Also in attendance were Pál Schmitt, Vice President if tge Europeaan Parliament, Liam Alyward, MEP for Ireland, Joanna Despotopoulou, President of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee and Boguslaw Galazska, CEO of the 2010 Special Olympics European Games.

Photo: Mary Davis, Managing Director for SOEE delivering a speech.  In the background from left to right: Ioana Ciobanu, Global Messanger for Special Olympics, Ján Figel', European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth and Liam Aylward, MEP for Ireland." (Courtesy of Liam Aylward)