The Walls We Cannot See

Last week, I was blessed to be a part of the spirit and joy of the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany. Some 7000 athletes with intellectual and developmental challenges from 185 countries and territories were the stars. Like any Special Olympics event near you, volunteers served, law enforcement leaders carried the flame of hope, health care practitioners checked and treated athletes, coaches shouted and cheered and cried, athlete leaders shared their vision and experiences, and fans, friends, and families were blown away. But unlike your local Special Olympics games, these games were in Berlin. The opening ceremony was in the Olympiastadion where no Olympic event had occurred since 1936 when Adolf Hitler was the head of Nazi Germany and spread his violent creed of Aryan Supremacy. At those games, Jesse Owens embarrassed the Nazi hate machine with his skill and bravery, winning four gold medals. “I let my feet spend as little time on the ground as possible,” he explained. His gravestone is inscribed with these words: Jesse Owens: “A master of the spirit…of sports.” <a href="https://medium.com/@SpecialOlympics/the-walls-we-cannot-see-4d790df4374a">Read More</a>