Press Release

For Immediate Release

CONTACT:

Susan Prior
Director of PR
800-235-9058, ext. 231

sprior@specialolympicspa.org

Allentown Athlete Travels to Capital Hill to Meet with Senator Santorum, Senator Specter and Others to Discuss the Importance of Special Olympics

[Norristown, PA – April 4, 2005] – On Wednesday, April 6, Lehigh County Special Olympics athlete and self–advocate Nicole Seng will travel to Washington, DC, to meet with Senator Rick Santorum, Senator Arlen Specter, Representative Curt Weldon and Representative Charles Dent in their offices on Capital Hill to discuss the impact of Special Olympics and to request continued and additional support for much-needed programming for the largest disability population in the world – people with intellectual disabilities.

More than 20 Special Olympics athletes from around the country will be holding similar meetings with their representatives throughout the day to lobby for funding and prove that the benefits received through involvement with Special Olympics can help people with intellectual disabilities contribute to their communities.

“For many years people with intellectual disabilities have been kept in the shadows, but Special Olympics is helping to open the doors of opportunity for our athletes to be true leaders, not only in their communities, but throughout the world,” said Timothy P. Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics. “With federal support for education, health and worldwide expansion through Special Olympics, we will be able to empower more athletes around the world to become leaders in our efforts to change attitudes from ignorance to acceptance.”

In November 2004, President George Bush signed into law the Sport & Empowerment Act, which authorizes $15 million a year in federal funding for Special Olympics in the areas of education, health and worldwide expansion. In the past year, Special Olympics has opened new Programs in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Burma), and staged a successful World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, which brought together more than 1,800 athletes from 84 countries. In addition, the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® program has hosted Medfests in India, Indonesia, China, Mexico and urban areas throughout the United States. At Medfests, volunteer health care professionals conduct basic health screenings for people with intellectual disabilities to provide them a completed and approved medical form so they may join a local Special Olympics Program. Special Olympics continues to concentrate efforts on changing negative attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities to create atmospheres of acceptance and inclusion.

“Special Olympics has meant the world to me and my parents. I have grown up with some of the athletes and their families,” said Seng. “I would be lost without Special Olympics and all my friends from across the state.”

A resident of Allentown, PA, 27-year old Seng has actively participated in Special Olympics for nearly 20 years. She currently participates in five Special Olympics sports, including swimming, basketball, softball, soccer and bowling. In addition to her athletic achievements, Seng is an accomplished public speaker. She serves as a Special Olympics Global Messenger, and frequently speaks to local businesses, community groups and other organizations about the impact Special Olympics has made on her life. She is employed by the Lehigh Career Technical School as a child care aide.

About Special Olympics

Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. Through year-round sports training and athletic competition and other related programming for 1.7 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries, Special Olympics has created a model community that celebrates people’s diverse gifts. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. Visit Special Olympics online at www.specialolympics.org.