tagged: Athens, athletes, Greece, special olympics, strike

Greek Special Olympics Athletes to Strike Against State Indifference

Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Sports

Greek Special Olympics Athletes are desperate as they face the indifference of the state to their immense physical and psychologicla struggle. Their Federation is calling its members on strike 23-25 November, 2010.

Athletes with disabilities, their trainers and families, but also the Special Olympics Hellas Committee will gather outside the Greek Parliament to raise their voices against the depreciation of their work.

“We’re about two years before the Special Olympics Games in London and some (state officials) are whistling indifferent to problems and struggles” said SOH Chairman, Giorgos Fountoulakis adding that  “They ignore the successes we have all these years in the Special Olympics Games, World and European championships.”

Yes, we know that the Greek State has money problems, but one should take into consideration how much it  means for an athlete with physical or intellectual disabilities to break the bondage  of  social isolation and earn the fruits of success.

Special Olympics World Summer Games  will take place in Athens, June 25 – July 4, 2011.

How the “Loretta Claiborne Story’ affected me

 

Loretta Claiborne is a partially blind and mildly mentally challenged Special Olympics marathon runner. Born the fourth of seven children in a low income single parent family, Loretta Claiborne struggled with walking and talking from an early age as she born partially blind. Yet although Claiborne didn’t speak or run until her fourth birthday, it wasn’t long until she discovered a love of running.