September 15, 2005

Nadia Comaneci, Vice-Chair of Special Olympics International, Cristian Ispas, Director of Special Olympics Romania Foundation, and U.S Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Mark Taplin announced today that the 2005 regional Special Olympics Friendship Games will be hosted for the first time by Romania. More than 450 Special Olympics athletes from 11 European countries will compete in four different sports, once again demonstrating their strengths and the value of the contributions they can make to society. The Games will be held in Constanta September 25-27.

The announcement was made at a press conference held this morning at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Bucharest. The conference was also attended by members of the popular music group Trei Sud Est, who, along with singer Nicola, have accepted the role of Special Olympics ambassadors and will perform at the Opening Ceremonies on September 25.

The Friendship Games will be organized under the patronage of President Traian Basescu, a dedicated Special Olympics supporter. In 2002, during his term as Mayor of Bucharest, he participated in the traditional Torch Run wearing a T-shirt with the logo “Infrunta-ti limitele!” In June this year, he invited Special Olympics Romania team members to Cotroceni, where they received Presidential medals for their outstanding contributions to Romanian sports.

The Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics Friendship Games will be held on September 25 at 5:00 p.m. at the Constanta Sport Hall, where President Basescu’s personal message will be delivered by his Counselor, Renate Weber. Officials including Jonathan Scheele, Head of the European Commission Delegation to Romania, and Danut Culetu, Constanta County Prefect, are also invited to attend. Representatives of Special Olympics Romania and Special Olympics Europe will be present.

In August, 2004, the U.S. Government provided a grant through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to Special Olympics Romania for a three-year program entitled “Support for Changing Attitudes.” Since the program started, many corporate sponsors have donated to Special Olympics, including the “Cow Parade” in Bucharest this summer. The Romanian Special Olympics 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 learning 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 details, please contact:
Cristian Ispas, Special Olympics Romania Foundation
Str. Pitar Mos 27, ap.13, Sector 1, 010452, Bucharest, Romania
Tel/Fax: +4021 6592541

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15 Septembrie 2005

Nadia Comaneci, Vice-Presedinte al organizatiei Special Olympics International, Cristian Ispas, Directorul Fundatiei Special Olympics din Romania, si Insarcinatul cu Afaceri al Ambasadei SUA, Excelenta Sa Mark Taplin au anuntat astazi ca Romania va gazdui, pentru prima data, Jocurile Prieteniei Special Olympics 2005. Peste 450 de sportivi Special Olympics din 11 tari europene vor concura la patru discipline sportive diferite, demonstrand inca o data abilitatile si valoarea contributiei lor in cadrul societatii. Jocurile vor fi organizate in Constanta, in perioada 25-27 septembrie 2005.

Anuntul a fost facut in cadrul unei conferinte de presa care a avut loc in aceasta dimineata la Hotelul Crowne Plaza din Bucuresti. La conferinta au participat si membrii formatiei Trei Sud Est care, alaturi de cantareata Nicola, si-au asumat rolul de ambasadori Special Olympics si vor concerta in cadrul ceremoniei de deschidere din 25 septembrie.

Jocurile Prieteniei vor fi organizate sub patronajul Presedintelui Traian Basescu, un sustinator declarat al Special Olympics. In 2002, in calitate de Primar al Municipiului Bucuresti, domnia sa a participat la traditionala Cursa a Flacarii Sperantei, purtand un tricou cu logo-ul “Infrunta-ti limitele!” In luna iunie a acestui an, sportivii Special Olympics din Romania, care au participat la Olimpiada de Iarna, au fost invitati la Cotroceni unde le-a fost inmanat Ordinul Meritul Sportiv pentru contributii deosebite aduse sportului romanesc.

Ceremonia de deschidere a Jocurilor Prieteniei va fi organizata pe data de 25 septembrie, la ora 17:00, la Sala Sporturilor din Constanta. Mesajul Presedintelui Basescu va fi transmis sportivilor de catre doamna Renate Weber, Consilier Prezidential. Printre invitatii la ceremonie se numara Seful Delegatiei Comisiei Uniunii Europene la Bucuresti, Jonathan Scheele, si Danut Culetu, Prefectul judetului Constanta. De asemenea, vor mai participa reprezentanti ai Special Olympics Romania si Special Olympics Europa.

In august 2004, Guvernul Statelor Unite a oferit organizatiei Special Olympics din Romania un imprumut nerambursabil, prin intermediul Agentiei Statelor Unite pentru Dezvoltare Internationala (USAID), destinat unui program de trei ani denumit sugestiv “Sprijin pentru Schimbarea Atitudinilor”. De la inceperea programului, multe companii au facut donatii pentru Special Olympics; in cadrul acestor donatii se inscrie si „Parada Vacutelor” organizata in aceasta vara in Bucuresti. Programul Special Olympics va oferi unui numar de15,000 de sportivi sansa de a arata Romaniei abilitatile, si nu dizabilitatile lor, prin organizarea de evenimente sportive, crearea unei retele de sprijin pentru familii si oportunitati de pregatire a sportivilor ca lideri in sustinerea miscarii Special Olympics.

In cei trei ani de derulare a programului “Sprijin pentru Schimbarea Atitudinilor”, Special Olympics Romania va lucra pentru: cresterea calitatii vietii persoanelor cu dizabilitati mentale din Romania, imbunatatirea suportului si accesului la informatie pentru familiile sportivilor Special Olympics si cresterea nivelului de constientizare a opiniei publice din Romania in legatura cu contributia pe care persoanele cu dizabilitati o pot aduce ca cetateni valorosi.

Pentru mai multe informatii, puteti contacta:
Cristian Ispas, Fundatia Special Olympics Romania
Str. Pitar Mos 27, ap.13, Sector 1, 010452
Tel/Fax: +4021 6592541

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