Families of Special Olympics: Thank you for your Faith in our Movement
Over the past year, the world has undergone some of the most drastic changes and challenges witnessed in the last century. Growing levels of uncertainty, enforced new norms, and social isolation has demanded a renewed sense of poise, patience, and creativity from us all. More than anything, we as a global community have witnessed an unfolding tragedy: loss of life from the virus coupled with a worsening economic forecast that can plunge anyone into despair. In short, it has been a very difficult year.
As we celebrated World Health Day this week, on behalf of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, I wish to salute the families of the movement. Throughout this pandemic, the athletes of Special Olympics have shown the world what it means to face adversity and show bravery and strength. Throughout this turbulent time, it has been the athletes of Special Olympics that have sent a message of hope, optimism and solidarity to the world. Day in and day out, with an ever-changing social landscape, it has been the athletes of Special Olympics that have helped to pick us up and raise our spirits, our morale, and our resolve.
And who empowers the athletes to send this message of inclusion, unity and strength to the world? The families of our athletes, who persevere through some of the toughest times, while never missing a chance to support this ever-growing Unified generation.
Today, I commend the countless families that have supported the dreams and aspirations of our athletes during such dark days. We remain so grateful for your faith in our movement. We appreciate your generous spirit in providing our community with so many Zoom/Teams calls, so many webinars and so many new ways of communicating that can at times be quite disruptive to the home setting.
We thank you for allowing all of us to move from fitness training in the gym to fitness training in the living room! We are impressed with the incredible creativity shown by families throughout the region, to create a new culture of connection at a time when isolation seemed to prevail. We are inspired by the connectivity that the youth have made possible during this past year, with the many roundtable discussions, engagement opportunities, sports training discussions, and so much more. We are encouraged to see that, despite all of the disruption, confusion and uncertainty, the families of our athletes remain the backbone of our movement, both here in Europe Eurasia and worldwide. For that, and so much more, we remain so very grateful.
With the advent of the vaccine, there is a good reason to be hopeful. But we must remain vigilant against the dangers of the virus and protect our health. We at Special Olympics Europe Eurasia feel most fortunate that we can count on the deep commitment of you- the families of our movement- to help us navigate these troubled waters, hold our hands, and guide us.
From Tashkent to Tbilisi, Paris to Prague and Madrid to Moscow, it is the families of the athletes of Special Olympics that make so much of our movement a reality for the world. As we look toward a brighter future, please know how much inspiration and strength we at Special Olympics draw from all of you, and the most valuable lessons you teach us all.
