While the world is watching the achievements at the 2017 Special Olympics World Games, the action is fast and furious and living in BC and Canada we are ever so proud of our athletes representing our great Country.
There are over 2,600 athletes from 107 countries striving for success and for these athletes the end result isn’t necessarily winning Gold – but rather by just being there.
BC is represented by 16 athletes and as the “Flame of Hope” was lit in Schladming Austria the Athletes repeated the Special Olympics oath, which other sports could clearly learn from, if they would only listen.
The games were broadcast around the world to over 190 countries by the local broadcaster Austrian ORF and it featured performances by Jason Mrax and a 13 year old winner of America’s Got Talent Grace VanderWall as well as European megastar Helene Fischer.
I received the following from the games in Austria regarding the opening ceremonies and by all accounts the Parade of Athletes was extremely impressive and featured several original musical creations.
Singer Rose May Alaba performed the Coca-Cola Unified song while the 105 delegations entered the stadium.
The delegations were accompanied by prominent supporters including Dr. Timothy Shriver (Chairman Special Olympics International), Mary Davis (CEO Special Olympics International), Special Olympics International Board Members including ice-skating legend Michelle Kwan, gold medalists NBA legend Sam Perkins and Olympic swimmer Donna De Varona, Vice Chairman Angelo Moratti, Princess Charlene of Monaco, singer/songwriter Jason Mraz, Princess Nora of Liechtenstein, Archduke Guillaume of Luxembourg, Minister Hans Peter Doskozil, Minister Wolfgang Sobotka, Governor of Styria Hermann Schützenhöfer, president of the BSO (Austrian Sports Organisation) Rudolf Hundstorfer, Klaus Eberhartinger (Entertainer), Fritz Kristoferitsch (Bandleader Edlseer).
The Austrian skiers Conny Hütter and Christian Walder and former skiers Peter Wirnsberger, Reinfried Herbst, Marco Büchel, Emese Hunyady and Harry Winkler, President of the Austrian Soccer “Bundesliga” Hans Rinner and many more.
With the World Games taking place we simply can’t forget about the upcoming 2017 Special Olympics being held in Kamloops the first part of July this year, so if you are planning on holiday’s make plans to attend and support these exceptional individuals.
