Sports stars called on attention from all sectors of the society to the people with intellectual disabilities at the Special Olympics Global Policy Summit here on Wednesday.
Donna De Varona, a former American Olympic champion in swimming and former Special Olympics International board member, underlined the non-stop efforts to be made for the people with intellectual disabilities.
"Last night in the opening ceremony, we saw the people with intellectual disabilities are totally integrated into the society. But what's next?" she asked at the summit's last discussion upon the relations between sports and intellectual disabilities.
"And we see them compete in the following days and make friends in the competition. But when the Special Olympics are finished, what is next?"
An Olympic gold medalist, De Varona was the youngest member -- at the age of 13 -- to compete on the U.S. Olympic swimming team at the Rome Games in 1960. Four years later, she took home two gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics.
She has been introduced into a number of sports halls of fame, including the International Swimming Hall of Fame, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and the Women's Sports Hall of Fame.
Former NBA star Sam Perkins is another devoted celebrity coming from the world of sports.
"On behalf of the NBA basketball, myself and my peers, I came here to show the support for the Special Olympics. NBA has many initiatives on the agenda every year to help the kids with disabilities," Perkins said.
"I watched the New Haven Games (in 1995) in the United States and since then the Special Olympics have grown enormously."
Both Perkins and De Varona, however, hinted that even in the most developed nations, efforts to promote opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities have met with many barriers.
Perkins admitted that many of them "took it (working for Special Olympics) for granted," adding all the people need working continuously and sincerely to "make sure every kid becomes successful in Special Olympics and life".
De Varona said: "The whole society must rise to protect the rights of those with intellectual disabilities and continued to work together."
"Sports is a language everybody knows, you don't need to talk to each other in the competition. The Special Olympics International did a fantastic job in the last few decades, and what we need most now is the role of the government.
"I know I can, and all of you will make a difference in the world," said De Vorona.
Source: Xinhua
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