Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day: The Service of Play

My mother was a warrior. No, not someone who carried a sword and went into hostilities to harm, but rather a warrior for good, and for the well-being of people with intellectual disabilities worldwide.

My mother's battlefield was the Special Olympics organization she founded in 1968. Her weapons of choice were compassion, an enormous heart, a sharp intellect and a competitive spirit. She used her full arsenal of talents to fight for those who were not viewed by society to be capable, to be fully human, to be deserving of the opportunity to play, to compete, and to contribute to their community worldwide.

This Saturday, September 24, over 100 countries will celebrate the second annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver (EKS) Day. Athletes, families and fans from around the world will play unified -- people with and without disabilities playing sports together -- to teach the world how to live unified.

My mother's genius was in using the power of sport to transform the world -- on the playing field, on playgrounds, in gyms and at schools. And the power of sport will be on full display this weekend with unified activities ranging from a Bart Conner-hosted gymnastics event in Norman, Oklahoma, a cricket tournament in Pakistan and football matches in Namibia to track and field competitions in Myanmar and Family Forums in Korea. I could go on and on.

EKS Day promotes play as a form of service. My mother believed in the very fiber of her being that, regardless of who we are or where we live, each of us has something to give, something the world needs from us. We all have talent, value and worth in the eyes of God and in the eyes of our families and communities. At the very least, all of us can play.

Play Unified is the theme for this year's EKS Day. Our hope is that people with and without intellectual disabilities will be inspired to play together and compete together. Playing Unified means that every child and every adult can be included in activities that are challenging and fun, healthful and joyful.

So, get out and play tomorrow. Volunteer, coach someone, referee, cheer or do anything else that includes people with intellectual disabilities. My mother believed that, by doing so, our nation would be a better place and indeed the entire world would be a better place for everyone.

All of us can be warriors like my mother -- architects of change, as I like to say -- by giving the best of ourselves this weekend, all in the service of play.



To find an EKS Day event in your area, visit www.eksday.org

 

 

 

Follow Maria Shriver on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mariashriver

Comments

[CalmDawn]

12:33 PM on 09/25/2011

While I missed EKS Day, I want very much to thank the Special Olympics organization for what they did for my nephew. He was becoming withdrawn and inactive. But Special Olympics showed him he was able to accomplish something, and be cheered for it. That was 14 years ago, and he still participates in several different sports. Special Olympics is a huge part of his life. And every time I attend a meet, I am overwhelmed by the courage of the athletes, the generosity of the volunteers, and the love expressed by the spectators. The absolute greatest experiences in my life have been during these events, when a participant is struggling to finish a race, and the spectators and coaches cheer encouragement, then roar when that participant makes it to the finish line. Indescribable joy!

[keep it solid]

06:52 AM on 09/25/2011

Bravo and thank you Ms. Shriver for your work and the betterment of lives the Special Olympics brings all over the world.

[lostnacfgop]

01:56 AM on 09/25/2011

Ms. Shriver, your Mom and her family made the country a better place

[50IsTheNew40]

09:00 PM on 09/24/2011

Fantastic. Thank you for all you do.

[sve]

12:47 PM on 09/24/2011

Eternal human spirits experience this life through many different mediums - able bodied ones and disabled ones as well. Though the bodies & brains may sometimes be malformed - the souls powering them are always as capable pure and perfect, sometimes even more so, than the ones inhabiting the other better constructed bodies around them.

"Here is my secret. It is very simple: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." -Le Petit Prince

Thanks Eunice and family for giving us all the chance to see rightly.

[JimShanor]

08:41 PM on 09/23/2011

Wonderful family! I was a Peace Corps Volunteer, later worked as an advance man in Sarge's 1976 Presidential Campaign, Eunice was an inspiration to the small crew we had, and Maria was there, too, moving around New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The family is remarkable. Thanks, and bless your Mother and all the good she brought out in others.

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

07:08 PM on 09/23/2011

I'm going to a dedication of a Eunice Kennedy Shriver display at Special Olympics tomorrow. Special Olympics has given my son a peer group, taught him skills and helped him to grow into the wonderful human being he is today....not to mention given him hundreds of hours of fun. It has given us joy, satisfaction and a safe haven where we don't have to worry if he makes a misstep and where all celebrate his triumphs. In essence, we have a wonderful community in Special Olympics. Tomorrow is just another opportunity to say thanks.

[IBEW1377]

07:03 PM on 09/23/2011

My son has been a Special Olympics athlete for the last ten years and I a coach in several sports not a day goes by that I do thank the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver for starting this wonderful program.
Her passing was a sad day for us all but her spirit will live forever and she shall be remembered every time and every place that these athletes compete.

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

11:17 AM on 09/25/2011

I had another wonderful morning at Special Olympics yesterday. Viewing the new EKS exhibit and watching my son try a new sport. I always tell people who are thinking about joining, volunteering or coaching that a "bad" day at SO beats most good days elsewhere. It's a joyous experience. I am lucky to attend as a parent, coach, chaperone and sideline cheerer.

[wtaylorhi]

03:17 PM on 09/23/2011

Maria, I admire your mom and you for being strong and making a difference in so many ways to so many people. God bless your family.

[methodman]

11:22 AM on 09/23/2011

With the dearest respect I think you need to write about rewriting the rules to playing games. There is actually several standarized discussions about working through a series of stages that as you go along build more terms that bind into a rule. Creativity is confidence in believability of rules. Churches make fun of this That is why their congregations are so dull and anyone who is literate or philosophical, or technological or a student knows they are not welcome and will not come. The game actually requires coming to comfort with learning and binding things into steps and accepting your own reasons(moments for a mood) and as a smile covet your neighbor as in Chess or flip all the other pieces over to resemble your self. Republican Perty. This leads to a knowledge of strategic and play and completeness and even though comfort never arrives. Creativity continues to expand.

[MRstoner2udude]

11:12 AM on 09/23/2011

Volunteers were out at intersections in Columbus Ohio collecting donations for the SO. I give them a small donation and I felt really good. God bless your Mother Maria.

[Clamdip LobsterClaws]

11:10 AM on 09/23/2011

I've recently started to tutor a 4th grader. I advertised my free "Study Buddy Club" but got a weak response so I think I'll move it to the local library. I was hoping to turn it into a summer program because I see so many kids hanging around with nothing to do over the summer. I'm looking for an angel investor. I can do alot on a shoestring budget but it would be nice to give out homework appreciation rewards or an occasional pizza party or field trip once in a while. I love to see kids moving, exploring, learning and being the best they can be.

[crom14]

11:08 AM on 09/23/2011

I had the luxury of hearing your Mom speak at a dinner. I also had the blessing of a Aunt that had disabilities. I learned more from her about life, than anyone else. Her lesson a still with me as she left us a few tears ago. Compassion and kindness are free, free to give to the world.
Bless you, Maria.