Special Olympics

Also during the May Day weekend I went to Vinnytsia to help out for a day at the Special Olympics. The event was a two day soccer tournament with teams from regions all around Ukraine. One difference between American and Ukrainian Special Olympics is the definition of special needs. In the case in Ukraine, at least for this event, special needs means "special circumstances." Many of the teams were composed of able-bodied teenagers from orphanages. Before going to the tournament, I was hoping to get to play a bit. I was quickly proved wrong because these kids were really good and I was scared to show my lackluster skills.







At the event was a man named Richard Sitler, a former volunteer in Jamaica. He is finishing up a year-long project of photographing Peace Corps volunteers from around the world that he will publish in a book. He was a lot of fun to talk to, mainly because he used to live in Oxford, Ohio and his sister had briefly attended Western College. One interesting comment that he made that I'd like to mention is that it was interesting that this event featured two legacies of the Kennedys: the Special Olympics and Peace Corps. Nearly 40 years later, the impact of their initiatives are intertwining in unexpected ways. If only the rest of us could find a way to leave a fraction of their dedication to social change in our lives.