Special Olympics ends 2023 working for acceptance, understanding and unity

Athletes along with unified teammates welcomed sponsors, allies, collaborators, ambassadors and volunteers to thank them for their support

Last updated Nov 28, 2023

For volunteers, coaches and other supporters from all corners of the world, the Games organized by Special Olympics inspire hope and faith in a better future of global acceptance, understanding and unity.

Under the motto “Together Unbeatable”, this year, Special Olympics Venezuela participated in the World Summer Games that were held in Berlin, Germany, in June, with a delegation of 17 athletes and 4 unified teammates, in 6 sports disciplines: swimming, power lifting, athletics, field tennis, artistic gymnastics and bowling, obtaining 38 medals for our country: 11 gold, 11 silver and 16 bronze, as well as 10 participation ribbons.

Furthermore, OEV’s work throughout 2023 is extensive and leaves its mark.

The Venezuelan medalists at the Special Olympics World Summer Games, Berlin 2023, shone prominently in this emotional meeting to recognize and thank

The Annual Awards Ceremony of Special Olympics Venezuela took place at the Valle Arriba Athletic Center facilities in Caracas

During the recent meeting, the moderators of the day were the communications director of Special Olympics Venezuela, María Alejandra Pellicer and the unified duo made up of the OEV leader athlete Ricardo Toro and Paola Maldonado, a volunteer member of the Youth Activation committee of the NGO.

With Alejandro León (OEV ambassador and host of Zona Escolar on La Mega 107 FM) and Miguel Quirós (leading athlete and ambassador since 2020)

Athletes along with unified teammates welcomed sponsors, allies, collaborators, ambassadors and volunteers to thank them for their support

The list of grateful, nominated and recognized people, companies and institutions from all sectors that attended the event is long, but among them some are: Colegio Emil Friedman, Fundación Plaza’s, Sofitasa Banco Universal, Ana Genty, Venezuela Libre de Drugs, Fundasitio, Empresas Polar, My magazines, Eugenio Mendoza de Chacao Foundation, Fipan, Big Band Banana, Humberto Turinese, Social Style Dance Academy, School Zone, Apis Comunicaciones, “Román Recarte” Tennis Academy, Wao Estudio Creativo, the El Sumario Digital Communication Group (our brother portals elsumario.com and purovinotinto.com) as well as Marijo Castejón and Alejandro León, both ambassadors of OEV, and Alvaro Bochero, a leading Venezuelan athlete who currently presides over the corresponding council for Latin America; or the same president of Special Olympics Venezuela, Evelyn Guiralt de Genty, who at the time of being distinguished as an outstanding volunteer, received an affectionate, large and loud applause, which brought the full capacity of the Valle Arriba room at the VAAC to its feet.

«Because she has simply dedicated more than half of her life to making this movement shine and prosper, managing to infect, maintain and reinforce the entire OEV human team with her positive leadership... In a year of important challenges, she has managed solutions "that have allowed the continuity of the successful operation of our organization." The winner of the Outstanding Volunteer recognition was Evelyn Guiralt from Genty — «Because she has simply dedicated more than half of her life to making this movement shine and prosper, managing to infect, maintain and reinforce the entire OEV human team with her positive leadership… In a year of important challenges, she has managed solutions “that have allowed the continuity of the successful operation of our organization.” The winner of the Outstanding Volunteer recognition was Evelyn Guiralt from Genty

Special Olympics is the world’s largest inclusive movement for people with intellectual disabilities; improves their quality of life through sport, health and education

The Social Style dance academy, which this year joins as an Ally of Special Olympics Venezuela, to promote dance as a new opportunity for well-being for athletes, set the festive tone; He was present and encouraged – with the accompaniment of the public – at the beginning and at the closing.

Dear collaborators and ambassadors were grateful for their invaluable and significant support

OEV awarded recognition to its official sponsors and its volunteers of the year in seven categories (Training and Competitions, Institution or Sponsor, Management Team, Volunteer Family, Media, Outstanding Leader Athlete and Outstanding Volunteer), among other distinctions

The 2023 execution of Special Olympics Venezuela is the result of many and diverse supports, all important, coming from the different sectors of national life – more numerous than the capacity of the event hall -, so a good part of the recognitions will be delivered virtually.

In the Media category (volunteer) «the unanimous candidate, and consequently the winner, is the Digital Communication Group El Sumario: for the coverage during the World Games as well as for its support in the dissemination of all the activities carried out in the year, showing a clear commitment to the message of inclusion that we must bring to the entire society, to raise awareness. Our director-editor, Germán Febres, received the distinction

To conclude with a flourish, delicious tastings were offered, courtesy of Fundación Plaza’s, Pastelería Danubio, Creme Bruleé, Osole Foods, Santa Paleta, Inversiones NEPEK, Diablitos and Aroma Di Caffé.

Video coverage

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Special Olympics has been present in Venezuela since 1980, formalizing its constitution on June 6, 1994, and currently serves more than 6,125 athletes in 12 states of the country. Visit their website olimpiadasespeciales.org.ve and follow them on their networks for more details: Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, under the user: @OEVenezuela; Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube under: Special Olympics Venezuela.

Audiovisual production: Jesús Ramírez and Ida Febres

With information from Doble Llave / Taken from El Sumario and Puro Vinotinto

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