President Biden delivers remarks at “A Christmas for All: Celebration of Unity, America and Particular Olympics” on the White Home
“I believe you all underestimate what you do for the group. What you give individuals: hope.” President Joe Biden started in his opening remarks honoring the athletes and influence of Particular Olympics. “They see your braveness. They see you standing up beneath circumstances they don’t suppose they may deal with. And also you do it. And it’s all about hope.”
The President imbued the night with a way of inspiration and positivity, as he hosted “A Christmas for All: Celebration of Unity, America and Particular Olympics.” The occasion distinguished the work that Particular Olympics, with the help of the Biden administration and Members of Congress, has been doing to interact U.S. authorities officers, educators, well being professionals, dad and mom, coaches, youth and communities in every single place to not solely struggle intolerance, however encourage us all to be extra inclusive.
“I do know this work is about much more than sports activities. It’s about group. It’s about well being. It’s about alternative. It’s about who we’re as a nation. What’s our character? The place is our coronary heart? The Particular Olympics oath is: let me win, but when I can’t win, let me be courageous within the try. That’s the essential American spirit. Your spirit. And also you instill it in all people.”
President Joe Biden
This sensibility was emboldened by inspiring phrases from Loretta Claiborne, Chief Inspiration Officer at Particular Olympics. Throughout her speech, she addressed President Biden, “It’s individuals such as you, who gave all these years. You would have been doing something. However you selected to work with individuals like me to have a greater life. To be included on this society. To vote. To do the whole lot.”
President Biden’s connection to Particular Olympics dates again to 1971, a 12 months after Loretta joined the motion. Then Council Member Biden attended the very first Particular Olympics Delaware Video games and cheered on over 100 athletes. From that time on, he headlined many native Particular Olympics Video games, led a delegation to World Video games in Boise, Idaho, despatched a delegation to the Particular Olympics World Video games in Berlin, and championed the trigger within the halls of Congress.
“This nation can come collectively and unify as one. After we settle for all individuals to work, to play, to have alternatives. If it wasn’t for Particular Olympics I wouldn’t be right here.” Loretta continued. “I problem each certainly one of you sitting right here, to exit and do your finest.”
Constructing on this sense of unity, Chairman of the Board at Particular Olympics, Dr. Timothy Shriver, captured the essence of the motion, “We now have one factor in widespread on this room. We’ve all had a second the place the veil is eliminated. After we lastly had been allowed to see the unmistakable human dignity and great thing about one other. We’ve all had that second, and it’s modified all of our lives. It’s the identical second that my mom hoped the world would have again and again.”
The occasion celebrated founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s imaginative and prescient and the extraordinary achievements of Particular Olympics athletes and gave because of the greater than 50 years of help President Biden has given to the Particular Olympics motion in paying tribute to the items of individuals with mental and developmental disabilities (IDD) and awakening the nation to the urgency of defending their rights and their means to contribute to making a extra inclusive world for all.
“We collect right here tonight, not simply in tribute to her [Eunice Kennedy Shriver], however with the resolve she tried to present us. To proceed this work. To proceed the struggle. To thank those that have been with us all through the battle. And to interact relentlessly within the pursuit of the dignity of each human being.”
Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman, Particular Olympics
The after-dinner leisure continued with performances by Award Successful Up to date Gospel legend BeBe Winans, certainly one of Washington’s most beloved theater artists Nova Y. Payton, members of the U.S. Air Power Strolling Strings band, and Particular Olympics Texas athlete chief and former Sargent Shriver International Messenger Renee Manfredi. Athletes attending the occasion represented Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northern California, Southern California, Texas, Tennessee, Wyoming, Brazil and Nice Britain. Honored friends included Andre Drummond, Derek White, and Rose Mutombo.
Particular Olympics USA, a 160-member delegation, will take part within the Particular Olympics World Winter Video games in Turin, Italy from March 8-15, 2025. The delegation consists of athletes, Unified companions (individuals with out disabilities that compete on the identical group) and coaches from varied Particular Olympics Applications across the nation. Claire Potter and Ralph Gemmill, Jr. shall be competing in Alpine Snowboarding and Elaina Camacho shall be competing in Snowshoeing.
For extra info on the Particular Olympics World Winter Video games in Turin, please go to: www.turin2025.org.
