Voice of the Athlete. Delegates to the Global Athlete Congress deliberate and vote on issues important to them.(From left: SOEA Athletes Sam Tan, Huang Minmin and AO Ieong In)

June 6, 2010 the third Special Olympics Global Athlete Congress (GAC) took place in Marrakech bringing together 66 Special Olympics athletes from more than 35 countries.  The athletes, who met throughout the day to discuss critical issues and the future of the movement, were also official delegates of the Special Olympics 2010 Global Congress.

After hours of discussing subjects such as the need for coaching excellence, sandbagging, code of conduct, the delegates will now ensure that the athlete voice and opinions were impacting the 2011-2015 Strategic Plan. The GAC will provide an official report of their recommendations at the end of the Global Congress.

The GAC delegates also elected a new GAC Chair, Matthew Williams from British Columbia, Canada, who made a compelling and passionate speech. Williams was introduced to all Global Congress delegates at the Opening Session of the Global Congress this morning.

The athletes that serve on the GAC, range in age from 16-50, and represent all seven of the Special Olympics global regions, the diversity of delegates will help create a stronger voice for people with intellectual disabilities off the playing field and in a governmental setting. The GAC is an extension of Special Olympics Athletic Leadership Programs (ALPs), which provide leadership opportunities in the areas of governance, public speaking and coaching to Special Olympics athletes. Delegates include past and present International Global Messengers and Program Board Directors, who serve as spokespersons around the world.

“This Athlete Congress is an opportunity for us as Special Olympics athletes to show the world our abilities while also serving as leaders of a movement we passionately want to grow,” said Special Olympics South Africa athlete and current GAC Chair Ephraim Mopedi Mohlakane. “There are more than 200 million people worldwide with intellectual disabilities, so it is crucial for us to use this Congress as an opportunity to speak to the opportunities to help gain respect and acceptance for those of us with intellectual disabilities.”

This is just the third GAC in Special Olympics’ history.  At the inaugural congress in May 2000 in the Netherlands, 67 athlete leaders took steps toward creating new terminology and the first global codes of conduct for athletes and coaches.  The second GAC convened in 2005 in Panama City, Panama and included 70 athletes from around the world.  The first-ever all-athlete congress originated back in 1994 with a select group of local athletes in North Carolina, USA, followed by a regional congress in Jamaica in 1995.