The organizers of the Special Olympics in Berlin drew an extremely positive conclusion on the last day of the competition.
“I’m unbelievably happy,” said Christiane Krajewski, President of Special Olympics Germany: “Everything worked great. It was great games. Great athletes, great competitions. The media response overwhelmed me.” Over 330,000 visitors came to the sports facilities on the nine days of competition.
“It was phenomenal. They were games of bliss, just full of joy,” said Mary Davies, CEO of Special Olympics. He was “totally enthusiastic and overwhelmed,” added Sven Albrecht, head of organization, at the final press conference: “The athletes were able to experience special situations and were particularly happy.” The Special Olympics could be “significant and exemplary” for a German application for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, emphasized Krajewski.
It remains to be seen what lasting effect the Special Olympics will have on topics such as inclusion, participation and diversity. But “everyone felt how much we can all benefit from inclusion,” said Albrecht: “I wish that for everyday life too. We have to create more participation on site. We have to pick up the tailwind. It is our great wish that that doesn’t die down.”