Government support is revolutionary for the future, says Special Olympics Kenya on K24
Special Olympics Kenya went into K24 studio to spread the message of inclusion, and explain how they are working to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities.
Joshua Agare, Special Olympics Kenya athlete, double gold medalist and former Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger, and Susan Masila, Special Olympics Kenya’s National Director, were proud to share the message of inclusion, as well as the proud history of Special Olympics Kenya, on K24 Sports Hub on 7 May 2018.
Special Olympics Kenya is the Africa Region’s oldest program, having been the first introduced in 1978. In addition they are also the largest with over 55,000 athletes.
Agare shared his story with Special Olympics, since he started horse riding with the program in 1995. A former Special Olympics Kenya Board Member of long-standing, he is also an Athlete Leader and former Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger. Agare hopes to grow within the movement by taking his next step as a sports coach for other athletes and Unified partners.
Unprecedented government support gives hope for the future
The Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Education in Kenya have been pledging higher levels of support to the Special Olympics movement than any time in its past, shared Masila.
According to the Ministry of Sports, standing together with the National Police Service:
“We are here to support Special Olympics, because as a sporting Ministry, they have a part they have played that has not been significantly appreciated. We now pledge that we have athletes in Kenya in all different areas, from traditional athletes, to Paralympics, to now Special Olympics, and others.
But more than that, we are here today together with the National Police Service to join the rest of the world in what these Law Enforcement Torch Runs can achieve.”
The First Lady of Kenya, Her Excellency Mrs Margaret Kenyatta, is also an active Patron of Special Olympics Kenya. Read more on her involvement here.
Law Enforcement Torch Run
The Special Olympics Kenya National Games 2018 will be marked by a Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR). Since 1981, the mission of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics is to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics movement around the world, and it has become Special Olympics’ largest public awareness and fundraising group.
Since 2006, Special Olympics Kenya has been driving the LETR mission in the country, but this is the first time it will take place outside of the nation’s capital, Nairobi. The message and partnership of Special Olympics is being spread through the Kenya National Police Service’s Regional Commanders to the officers on ground level.
The first leg will begin in Nandi County, and the second leg conclude in Nairobi for the lighting of the flame at the Special Olympics Kenya National Games 2018.
Known as “Guardians of the Flame”, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the “Flame of Hope” into Opening Ceremonies of local competitions and State, Provincial, National, Regional and World Games. There are over 97,000 law enforcement members that carry the “Flame of Hope” annually. The flame symbolizes courage and celebration of diversity uniting communities around the globe.
Special Olympics Kenya Will Participate in the 2019 World Games, Taking Place in MENA for the First Time
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will be the host of the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The Games will be held 14 to 21 March in 2019, and be the world’s largest humanitarian and sporting event of 2019.
Special Olympics Kenya will be taking 73 athletes and Unified partners who will participate in 12 different sports. This ambitious number will be a first for Kenya, and they are confident they will achieve it, shared Masila.
Abu Dhabi is one of seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates. It’s also the capital city of the UAE. The Games will feature seven days of competition in 24 sports. The Games will welcome an expected 7,000 Special Olympics athletes, 2,600 coaches, 20,000 local volunteers and up to 500,000 spectators. 6,000 family members, 2,000 reporters, photographers, videographers and bloggers will capture the games for international media and 4,000 Honored guests of Special Olympics are expected to attend as well.
