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Picture (from left to right), photo courtesy SO Germany:
Sven Albrecht, National Director Special Olympics Germany, Sabine Menke Senior Manager Youth Education & Unified Sports® Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, Kai Troll Director of Organizational Development Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, Dr Thomas Bach President of the German Olympic Committee and Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, Roman Eichler, Special Olympics Germany Athlete Representative, Gernot Mittler, President Special Olympics Germany
Fourth Special Olympics Germany Scientific Congress “Empowerment and Inclusion” with
Dr. Thomas Bach, IOC Vice President
The fourth Special Olympics Germany Scientific Congress was hosted by the University of Bremen on June 18/19 2010. More than 100 participants registered for this congress on “Empowerment and Inclusion of People with Intellectual Disabilities”. Among them were representatives of leading German Universities in the fields of sport, social, medical and educational sciences, National Sport Governing Body representatives, national, local and regional Special Olympics program representatives and family members and Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia staff.
The congress hightlighted interdisciplinary approaches to „include“ people with intellectual disability into society.
Dr. Thomas Bach, President of the German Olympic Committee and Vice President of the International Olympic Committee gave the opening key note speech on June 18. He commented on the importance of Sport for the inclusion of people with disabilities: “Sport gives opportunities for success and progress for the athletes. Sport can also help bring together people with and without disability. Inclusion then happens beyond verbal statements”.
Prof. Dr. Dietrich Milles, Health Scientist who organized the congress, spoke about the second theme of the congress: “Empowerment is located in stress research and can be applied for anyone. It means that people are gaining support from their own motivation. They should be trained to deal with challenges themselves. Sport is an excellent way to encourage this," he said.
The Congress was organized during the Special Olympics Germany National Summer Games hosted by the City of Bremen June 14-19 2010. In total 4,500 athletes participated in 20 sports supported by 2,300 volunteers.
For additional information:
Sabine Menke
Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia
Senior Manager, Youth Education and Unified Sports®
smenke@specialolympics.org
T: +49 2 21 715 81 79