Dr. Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics International, sent a message to all Special Olympics athletes, volunteers, family leaders and other supporters around the world on Nov. 11, 2008, a week after the US President Election. In his letter, Dr. Shriver shares his thoughts on the achievements made by all athletes around the world.

Dear Friends,

I can't resist the urge to share a few brief thoughts with you on the occasion of the victory of Barack Obama in the recent presidential election in the United States. Like many people around the world, I see this "after the election" period as a time of rare unity and harmony. Senator McCain captured the tone when he said, "In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, (Obama’s) success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving."

For our athletes, this should be an occasion of pride and gratitude as well. In recent years, they, like Obama, have spoken out on the most important issues of our time: building communities of joy, acceptance, and dignity for all. We have heard the voices of athletes from Soweto to Shanghai; from London to Lima; from Boston to Beirut all echoing a familiar calling: Give us a chance! End the pain of exclusion and prejudice. Build communities that welcome the gifts of each member. Let us compete and we'll show you how to win!

Some have answered with doubt. "Can we really do all that—with only the simple tools of sport?" To the skeptics, our athletes answered with refrains they coined long ago. "We are the athletes of Special Olympics! We can do anything! Yes we can!"

Leaders of Special Olympics: the time for skeptics is over! The message of our athletes is ringing out around the world. One could scarcely imagine a greater affirmation of our athletes’ vision than President- elect Obama's message of hope. In so many ways, Barack Obama took a page out of our athlete's play book!

Our athletes asked for a chance to be included, and he too asked his country to be a place where everyone's gift matters. Our athletes asked for an end to stigma and name calling, and he too has asked the world to overcome age old prejudices and fears and find common ground. Our athletes encouraged each of us to believe that we can have fun bringing the world together, and he too crossed the globe welcoming massive armies of volunteers to a campaign of hope. And our athletes asked for the chance to be taken seriously as people of skill and value and he too affirmed the need for each of us to accept responsibility for contributing to solutions for our small and fragile planet.

To some, the Obama election is purely an American story. To others who disagree with his policies, his election is a disappointment. To still others, his election is primarily a story about the historic and deeply moving election of the first African American President.

While I respect all these perspectives, from a Special Olympics point of view, I can't help but see this as an affirmation of our global vision and mission. It’s not just about race or about one country or about one party.

It's about what can happen when we let our hearts be flooded with a belief in the power of the human spirit. It’s about each of us claiming our power to rise up and work for justice. It's about all of us joining together with humility and simplicity to find common purpose. And it's about the oath: the relentless pursuit of victory and the unyielding display of bravery in the attempt. Against all the odds and against all the disappointments of the past, this is a moment to believe.

In the weeks ahead, policy struggles and debates will re-emerge. On those issues, Special Olympics will neither support nor oppose any individual leader or party in the United States or around the world. As always, we ask only that leaders include people with intellectual disabilities as priorities in their decisions.

But for now, I encourage all our athletes, volunteers, family leaders, and friends to celebrate. Your voice has been heard. Your message has risen to the highest levels of power. Your vision has captured the world’s heart.

Athletes: this is your time too. Train hard. Compete courageously. Have fun in pursuit of your medals. Tell your fellow citizens to become fans of joy, acceptance, and the human race. And continue the call you have chanted for decades: "yes we can!"

Best wishes,

Timothy P. Shriver, Ph.D.
Chairman of the board.