September 22, 2006

More than three hundred Romanian and Hungarian athletes with intellectual disabilities are participating in the Special Olympics National Games being held in Alba Iulia September 20-22.

Events at the National Games include speed walking, running, long jump, and softball throw competitions. Athletes from every county in Romania and from neighboring Hungary arrived in Alba Iulia on Wednesday, and the official Opening Ceremonies were held on Thursday, September 21, in the Alba Iulia Union Cultural Center. Former MTV presenter Larisa Claru announced the delegations and introduced speakers including Lisa Heilbronn, Officer-in-Charge of the U.S. Embassy Information Office in Cluj; Dumitrel Ion, President of the Alba County Council; and Paul Voicu, Alba Iulia Vice Mayor and Sorin Valerian Chirila, Director of the County Social Assistance and Child Protection Department.

The Special Olympics National Games in Alba Iulia are hosted by the Special Olympics Romania Foundation and the Romanian National Academy for Physical Education and Sports. Generous financial support has been provided by Carrefour, Coca Cola, Lasselsberger, Nivea, and Romtelecom. The games are also supported by the Alba County Council's General Direction for Social Assistance and Child Protection, the Alba Iulia Mayor's Office, the Alba County Direction for Sports, the Union Cultural Center, and the "Sprijiniti Copiii" Association. Mix FM is the media partner of the event.

The Special Olympics Romania Foundation organizes events throughout the country for athletes competing in basketball, football, athletics, bocce, skiing, table tennis, gymnastics, and other sports. In August, 2004, the U.S. Government provided a grant through the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Special Olympics Romania Foundation for a three-year program entitled "Support for Changing Attitudes." The program will give 15,000 athletes the chance to show Romania their abilities, not their disabilities, through sports events, the creation of family support networks, and leadership training opportunities.

During the three years of the "Support for Changing Attitudes" program, Special Olympics Romania will work to: improve the quality of life of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Romania; improve the support and information for families of Special Olympic athletes; and increase public awareness of the contribution people with disabilities can make as valued citizens.

For more information, please contact:

Jay Sorensen
Development Outreach and Communications Coordinator
USAID/Romania
Tel: 021 316 1222

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22 Septembrie 2006

Peste trei sute de sportivi cu dizabilitati intelectuale participa la Jocurile Nationale de Atletism organizate in perioada 20 - 22 septembrie 2006 la Alba Iulia.

Probele de concurs sunt: mars, alergare, saritura in lungime si aruncarea mingii de oina. Sportivi din toate judetele tarii si o delegatie din Ungaria au sosit la Alba Iulia miercuri. Ceremonia de Deschidere a evenimentului a fost organizata joi, 21 septembrie la Casa de Cultura a Sindicatelor. Larisa Claru, fosta prezentatoare MTV, a prezentat delegatiile si a anuntat vorbitorii: Rodger Garner, Director USAID Romania, Lisa Heilbronn, Sefa Centrului de Informare al Ambasadei Americane la Cluj, Stefan Bardan, Deputat de Alba, Dumitrel Ion, presedintele Consiliului Judetean Alba, Paul Voicu, viceprimarul municipiului Alba Iulia, Sorin Valerian Chirila, Directorul Directiei Judetene de Asistenta Sociala si Protectia Copilului.

Jocurile Nationale Special Olympics de la Alba - Iulia sunt gazduite de Fundatia Special Olympics din Romania, alaturi de partenerul sau traditional, Academia Nationala pentru Educatie Fizica si Sport. Lasselsberger, Romtelecom, Nivea, Coca Cola, Carrefour sunt sponsorii generosi ai evenimentului. Jocurile beneficiaza de sustinerea partenerilor locali: Consiliul Judetean Alba- Directia Generala de Asistenta Sociala si Protectia Copilului, Primaria Municipiului Alba Iulia, Directia Judeteana pentru Sport, Casa de Cultura a Sindicatelor, Asociatia "Sprijiniti Copiii". Partenerul media al evenimentului este MixFm.

Fundatia Special Olympics din Romania organizeaza evenimente la nivel national in discipline ca baschet, fotbal, atletism, bocce, ski, tenis de masa si gimnastica. In august 2004 guvernul SUA a finantat, prin Agentia Statelor Unite pentru Dezvoltare Internationala (USAID), implementarea unui program cu durata de trei ani, denumit "Sprijin pentru Schimbarea Atitudinii". Programul isi propune sa ofere unui numar de 15,000 de sportivi cu dizabilitati intelectuale sansa de a demonstra tarii care le sunt abilitatile, nu dizabilitatile, prin evenimente sportive, crearea de retele de suport pentru familii si oportunitati de pregatire ca leaderi.

In cei trei ani ai proiectului, Special Olympics Romania va contribui la cresterea calitatii vietii persoanelor cu dizabilitati intelectuale din Romania, va imbunatati reteaua de suport si de informare pentru familiile sportivilor Special Olympics si va creste gradul de constientizare a contributiei pe care persoanele cu dizabilitati mentale o aduc ca membri valorosi ai societatii.

Pentru informatii suplimentare, contactati:

Jay Sorensen
Development Outreach and Communications Coordinator
USAID/Romania
Tel: 021 316 1222

Antoaneta Opris
PR Manager
Fundatia Special Olympics din Romania
E-mail: a.opris@specialolympics.ro
Tel: 0724 343 301

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