“Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.”– Mike Singletary, speaking of his career in football.
Isn’t this what we all want: the chance to participate in activities that enrich our lives? In the past, a physical or cognitive disability often meant spectator-only status when it came to sports, but that’s become less true with each passing decade. Check out Special Olympics champion gymnast, Chelsea Werner. Color me impressed; I never even learned to do a proper cartwheel.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver started Special Olympics in 1968, inspired by her sister, Rosemary Kennedy, who had cognitive disabilities and had been left out of many areas of life. For the past twenty years, Shriver’s son, Timothy, has served as chair of the organization. In his book “Fully Alive,” he speaks about the history of the group and his own personal experiences working with the athletes. Shriver finds motivation for his work in his faith, but there’s plenty of inspiration here for people of all belief systems.
Local athletes who are interested in participating in Special Olympics can contact Columbia Parks and Recreation or Special Olympics Missouri.
The 2005 documentary “Murderball” brought increased awareness to another group of athletes busy not sitting on the sidelines. The filmmakers followed the US quad (quadriplegia) Rugby team from training through competition in the 2004 Paralympics. The play is fast-paced and aggressive, and with specially designed wheelchairs, they manage to keep the contact aspect of the sport.
For a personal account of someone who refused to be stopped by his disability, check out John Maclean’s memoir “How Far Can You Go?” In 2013, Maclean realized his dream of walking again, 25 years after an accident that left him partially paralyzed. In the meantime, he competed as a wheelchair athlete in the Iron Man Triathlon, swam the English Channel, raced yachts and won a silver medal for rowing in the Paralympics.
As these athletes have shown us, inclusion isn’t an act of charity; it’s basic fairness. We all benefit when everyone has the opportunity to play.
