Belize represented at Special Olympics summit

The Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit on intellectual disabilities begins today in Idaho in the United States. Belize is being represented at the event by two thirteen year old girls, Romelda Logan and Briany Staine. Staine is a St. Catherine Academy student and Logan is a gold medalist of the Nicaragua Games. According to Director of Special Olympics in Belize, Akintade Atkens, both girls are representing not only the jewel, but the entire Caribbean region.

Akintade Atkens, Director of Special Olympics Belize
“The Global Youth Activation Summit is a new initiative of Special Olympics International designed to foster inclusion and acceptance of persons with intellectual disabilities among young persons between the ages of twelve to seventeen from around the world. It happens that two young persons from Belize, Romelda Logan and Briany Staine, were selected by Special Olympics International to represent Belize and the entire Caribbean at this particular summit. The Special Olympics, we believe that the fight against discrimination and stereotype against persons with disabilities has come to a stage where we need to involve young persons.”

Briany Staine, Representative, Global Youth Activation Summit
“I’m going to Idaho. I expect to learn leadership skills and be more confident. And I expect to share my knowledge and experience when I get back to Belize.”

Romelda Logan, Special Olympics Athlete
“I’m going to Idaho to go and visit the other athletes; talk with them.”

Jose Sanchez
“What else?”

Romelda Logan
“Play with them.”

Jose Sanchez
“You’ve gone away before and you brought back some medals. What was that experience like?”

Romelda Logan
“It was good.”

Akintade Atkens
“At the summit they will be doing various types of things ranging from training in journalism and becoming more conversant with the goals and visions of Special Olympics. We believe very fervently that when they come back, they would not have only proven themselves to be good ambassadors of Belize and also the entire Caribbean, but also when they come back they will be working with their peers to bring about a change in the Belizean society and of course the Caribbean.”

Dr. Jorge Habet and Ken Vasquez are accompanying the delegates to Boise and will participate in a Train the Trainer seminar.