By Rike Fabia Lohmann
On June 26, 1963, then US President John F. Kennedy († 46) made history. At Schöneberg Town Hall, he ended his speech against the Wall and Soviet Communism with “I am a Berliner.” Hundreds of thousands of people cheered him on.
On Sunday, June 25, 2023, Kennedy’s nephew Timothy Shriver (63) will stand in front of the Brandenburg Gate in his capacity as chairman of Special Olympics International. And also give a speech.
The 16th Special Olympics World Games, the world’s largest sporting event for people with intellectual disabilities, which has taken place in Berlin since June 17, comes to an end today.
His smile says it all: Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics International, is happy. The World Games in Berlin: In his opinion, a complete success. Here he hugs American Special Olympics athlete Loretta Claiborne Photo: Matthew Koch
“It is very emotional for me that the world games of the movement that my mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver († 88) brought to life in the 1960s are taking place in Berlin of all places,” Shriver said about BamS. “My uncle’s speech is timeless. We could give the same speech again today. Special Olympics is also about breaking down walls. Walls that are not always visible. It’s about uniting people and not excluding anyone.”
Kissed by an athlete
Timothy Shriver traveled to Berlin with his family three days before the start of the World Games. Despite many representative tasks, whenever the schedule allowed, he watched competitions and always sought to be close to the athletes.
And they in turn looked for his.
A moment that went around the world: During Shriver’s speech at the opening ceremony, a Syrian athlete ran onto the stage, ran up to Shriver, hugged and kissed him. Shriver’s reaction? Returning the emotional gesture.
“When I saw the athlete walking towards me, I thought I was talking too long and he was trying to tell me to finish,” Shriver laughs. “It was only then that I realized that he just wanted to give me a little support. That touched me. We need more of such moments: no barriers, no securities and, above all, more emotions.”
Emotional moment: When the Ukrainian athletes entered the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony, the cheers of the spectators were louder than with any other team Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa
Athletes danced for 20 minutes
There have been many goosebump moments in the past few days. For example, when the Ukrainian delegation entered the Olympic Stadium at the opening ceremony, not a single spectator stayed in their seats. Almost 30,000 people stood up and cheered on the athletes. Also for Shriver a situation that he will not forget. “Then a message went out into the world: We must end the wars in this world. stop them!”
Shriver also recalled a basketball game on Tuesday while he was in the stands: “Germany vs. Brazil. It was really close. The Germans threw the decisive basket in literally the last second. What happened next – unbelievable. The spectators celebrated and the athletes danced exuberantly on the field for at least 20 minutes.”
Powerlifting, consisting of squats, bench presses and deadlifts, is one of the most popular disciplines at the World Games. Here Danilo Panicki from Germany Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa
He adds with a laugh: “The schedule even got a bit mixed up because the German basketball players didn’t let themselves be dissuaded from their spontaneous party and the teams that were due afterwards didn’t come onto the field. But hey: This is Special Olympics and that’s a good thing.”
Speaking of parties. That’s exactly how he experienced Berlin in the last seven days. “The city welcomed us with open arms. I would even say: Berlin is currently the most hospitable place in the world. Without prejudice, without exclusion. We are all Berliners these days.”
Prominent visitor: Germany’s basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki with the German basketball players Photo: picture alliance/dpa
At that time, on June 26, 1963, his mother was at his uncle’s side. Shriver: “Then she opened Camp Shriver at our home in Maryland a few days after her return.”
He explains, “Camp Shriver was the origin of Special Olympics. My mother had hosted summer camps for children with intellectual disabilities because they weren’t allowed to attend regular camps. My mother would be proud if she could see that our family is here again and that Berlin is spreading the values that Special Olympics stands for around the world.”