The German basketball icon Dirk Nowitzki supports the Special Olympics in Berlin and sends the German team into the race for medals with a special boost of motivation.
The 2011 NBA champion attended the German basketball team’s training session on Saturday morning and will also be present at the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium in the evening.
“Sport can bring people together. That’s what the Special Olympics are all about here. I hope we can all have a great party together,” said Nowitzki. For the Texan by choice, who is leaving on Sunday and celebrating his 45th birthday on Monday, it is the first time at the World Games for people with mental and multiple disabilities: “For me, the Special Olympics stand for inclusion. It’s about that People with intellectual disabilities get a chance to play sports at a high level.”
The thought of the opening ceremony brought back memories of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing for Nowitzki. Back then, he led the German team into the stadium as the flag bearer at the opening ceremony. “It’s an experience that I will never forget for the rest of my life. I was incredibly nervous and excited,” said Nowitzki.
At the Special Olympics in Berlin, 7,000 athletes from 190 countries will compete in 26 sports until June 25th. The World Games are the largest multisport event in Germany since the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.