2.6.08
Our State has the wonderful opportunity to house the Special Olympics World Games 2009! To start the games off, our little town of Nampa held the Opening Ceremonies at the Idaho Center Friday, February 6th. I now wish I would have gotten tickets to the ceremonies. We watched the festivities on tv and I was in awe at the courage, the determination and enthusiasm these athletes seemed to sweat! Not only would I have enjoyed the spirit that seemed to fill the Idaho Center, I would have been gawking at all of the celebrities. Kenny G, Maria Shriver (her mother founded the Special Olympics 40+years ago after seeing the need for special sports for her disabled sister to join!), and many more!
Tim Shriver gave an opening speech which was very touching. This is a quote from it that I LOVE:
"Come to the games. Look at our athletes," said Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver to the crowd. "They're in the game. They're racing with all the energy God gave them. They're unafraid. They're brave. Don't just admire them. Don't just be nice to them. Don't you dare pity them. Instead, why not follow them?"
Tim Shriver
There were several wonderful musical numbers. One band, ironically named "The Flame" (appropriate for the Olympic torch which was lit that night) performed "I can see clearly now the rain is gone." The band members either had intellectual or physical disabilities. A male singer sang while his brother, who was bound to a wheel chair played the piano. Amazing!
Sunday night, Justin and I sat down with Trey and talked about "differences." Justin told Trey about the Good Samaritan and how we should treat everyone with love and respect, no matter their differences. I told Trey about the sporting activities we were going to be watching at the Special Olympics in the following week and how we should cheer EVERYONE on. No matter if they win or lose, fall or succeed.
During the Opening Ceremonies, the same sentence was stated over and over again: BE A FAN! We WERE going to be fan, and I couldn't wait!
Special Olympics Oath:
"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be strong in the attempt."
