During an emotional ceremony, designed and organized by SYMVOLI, the ‘Empress Theophano’ Prize was presented to Special Olympics and Chairman Dr. Timothy Shriver for promoting the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities and creating a more inclusive society
The power of will, the bravery of effort and Solidarity for all and the joy of life are the messages of this year’s prize, as an antidote to the intolerance of our times.
SYMVOLI is more than proud to undertake the design and the organization of all Theophano Foundation’s events since its inauguration in 2019, especially when their purpose and messages become so important to our society humane values.
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The 5th ‘Empress Theophano’ Prize was presented to Special Olympics, its Chairman, Dr. Timothy Shriver and CEO Mary Davis, on Wednesday 23rd October 2024 during a particularly moving ceremony held at the Rotunda Monument, in the presence of luminaries from across the world, and with the active participation of Special Olympics athletes
This year, the ‘Empress Theophano’ Prize, which aims to showcase persons and organisations within and outside Europe who embody European and universal values, highlighted the social role of sports, through the vision of Special Olympics for a world of acceptance, inclusivity and equal opportunities for all, regardless of ability. Through the power of sports, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities discover new strengths and abilities, skills and successes. What first started as a summer day camp in 1962 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the organization’s founder and mother of Dr. Shriver, has since evolved to be a global movement for inclusion that currently supports 4 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in over 200 countries and nations around the world.
Inspiring speeches were delivered by the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Theophano Foundation, Stavros Andreadis, the Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Theophano Foundation and President Emeritus of the European Council, Herman Count Van Rompuy, and the Chairman of Special Olympics, Dr. Timothy Shriver , all highlighting the importance of promoting the rights of people with intellectual disabilities and of creating a more inclusive society.
The ceremony was presented by journalist and editor of ‘Kathimerini’ newspaper, Alexis Papachelas along with Special Olympics Hellas basketball athlete, Agis Diakopoulos. The ceremony ended with a symbolic event of music, screenings and dance, where the music of the ‘MOYSA’ Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Thessaloniki Concert Hall was combined with a demonstration by unified group of gymnasts, Special Olympics athletes as well as athletes of the ‘Wolves Team’ World Champion gymnastics team. During an intensely emotional event, the artistic programme confirmed in the best possible way the concepts highlighted by the Prize itself: the joy of participation, the power of will, the bravery of effort, acceptance, inclusivity.
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Round Table discussion on inclusive sports
Opening the dialogue on important issues related to social inclusion and inclusivity of people with intellectual disabilities, the Theophano Foundation also organized on Thursday, October 24th, 2024, at 18:00, at Thessaloniki Concert Hall (Emilios Riadis Hall), a Round Table discussion entitled ‘Inclusive Sports: Driving Human and Social Development for a Changing Europe’. Leading representatives of Special Olympics, including its Chairman, Dr Timothy Shriver, and its CEO, Mrs Mary Davis, international athletes and people close to the community of people with intellectual disabilities, contributed to the subject through their different perspectives, while the participation of Greek athletes and their families highlighted the key message of the power of sports and the ways inclusion strengthens families, societies and nations.
Earlier the same day, a Unified® Run of 1km was organised on the New Waterfront of Thessaloniki, in which athletes from the training programmes of the wider region of Thessaloniki, coaches, family members of Special Olympics Hellas athletes, students of the Inclusive Sports Schools, partners and friends of Special Olympics participated.
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