Special
Olympics congress holds in
Morocco
Nigeria on Sunday joined 179 other nations at the Special Olympics Global Congress that is holding in Marrakech, Morocco.
Representing
Nigeria in Morocco are Folashade Bolumole, national director and
Onamisan Eresanara, Board Director, Special Olympics of Nigeria.
The congress,
which has brought together over 600 delegates and athletes from 180
countries, will muster Special Olympics leaders to engage in a serious
global dialogue, and conduct consultations about the future of Special
Olympics movement, said Special Olympics Morocco.
“The meeting will
be an opportunity to assess Special Olympics’s programs over the past
decade and define its strategy for the period 2011-2015,” Special
Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver said in a statement.
A course for the future
The congress which
started on Sunday, June 6, 2010 will end on Thursday, June 10. It is
expected to provide the avenue for participating nations to chart the
course for the future of the Special Olympics movement.
Enumerating the
opportunities to be derived, Shriver said, “We are excited to be able
to bring together our leadership from all corners of the world. This is
an incredible opportunity to ignite a spark within our movement by
sharing ideas and best practices to further our reach and to gain
respect and acceptance for our athletes as we look to support the more
than 200 million people worldwide who have an intellectual disability.”
The congress is supported by King Mohammed VI of Morocco and Princess
Lalla Amina, who also serves on Special Olympics’ International’s Board
of Directors.
Shriver added that “In the past 10 years, Special Olympics has grown
rapidly, having tripled the number of participating athletes to nearly
3.5 million and now having programs established in more than 170
nations worldwide.” “This growth brings challenges and opportunities
which will be addressed through this Global Congress.” “The 2010 Global
Congress will also give leadership from Special Olympics the
opportunity to carry the torch of Special Olympics late founder, Eunice
Kennedy Shriver who will be honoured as Special Olympics’ leadership
ignites an even bolder movement in support of the Special Olympics,
Shriver concluded.” Nigeria has been competing in the Special Olympics
since the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
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