Michelle in Athens/Special Olympics

[demarinis5]

Brief Video of Michelle in Athens. Mathman she is looking very beautiful.


http://gamutnews.com/20110624/35745/video-michelle-kwan-talks-about-the-special-olympics.html

 

[kwanatic]

She looks absolutely gorgeous! I love her hair like that!

Michelle's such a remarkable woman! I just adore her!

 

[janetfan]

Thanks for the clip and Michelle looks and sounds great.

I couldn' help notice her message that Olympics are about "teamwork."

Obviously an experienced Intl competitor like Michelle knows what representing your country is all about. :yes:

 

[demarinis5]

^Hernando I knew you would pick up on the word "teamwork" in Michelle's interview.

 

[janetfan]

^Hernando I knew you would pick up on the word "teamwork" in Michelle's interview.

And I knew you would pick up on me picking up on Michelle's words

It's typically pretty safe at GS to agree with Michelle and even mathman might feel pretty geeky contradicting the Kween.

 

[demarinis5]

^ Touché

 

[seniorita]

!!!! I feel honored!
I cant watch the vid, it doesnt load!Only the pic! Is she really in Athens? Cause either you are in Greece or not the background they put you is always the same!
Imagine I was in Athens now and was walking the center and saw Michelle Kwan passing. I would think I have the GS syndrome and would go to the first ophthalmologist I d find! I hope she visits the islands

 

[Violet Bliss]

Thanks for the clip and Michelle looks and sounds great.

I couldn' help notice her message that Olympics are about "teamwork."

Obviously an experienced Intl competitor like Michelle knows what representing your country is all about. :yes:

How do you jump to the conclusion that "teamwork" = "what representing your country is all about"?

Besides team sports, almost all elite athletes these days work with their teams, from coaches to all kinds of physical and psychological specialists and supporters. Such teamwork is definitely essential for those with physical challenges.

The Special Olympics especially celebrate human spirits and athletism, as well as teamwork, over nationalism.

 

[Olympia]

!!!! I feel honored!
I cant watch the vid, it doesnt load!Only the pic! Is she really in Athens? Cause either you are in Greece or not the background they put you is always the same!
Imagine I was in Athens now and was walking the center and saw Michelle Kwan passing. I would think I have the GS syndrome and would go to the first ophthalmologist I d find! I hope she visits the islands

I couldn't watch it either. Alas! But isn't it exciting that the Special Olympics is being held in the original home country of the Olympics. What a wonderful idea that movement is--and it all started because of one woman, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. It just goes to show you that it is possible for individuals to make a difference in the world. (I'm not contradicting your idea of teamwork, Hernando...I'm just saying that one person--or it could just as well be a small group of people--can bring about change.)

 

[demarinis5]

!!!! I feel honored!
I cant watch the vid, it doesnt load!Only the pic! Is she really in Athens? Cause either you are in Greece or not the background they put you is always the same!
Imagine I was in Athens now and was walking the center and saw Michelle Kwan passing. I would think I have the GS syndrome and would go to the first ophthalmologist I d find! I hope she visits the islands

I couldn't watch it either. Alas! But isn't it exciting that the Special Olympics is being held in the original home country of the Olympics. What a wonderful idea that movement is--and it all started because of one woman, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. It just goes to show you that it is possible for individuals to make a difference in the world. (I'm not contradicting your idea of teamwork, Hernando...I'm just saying that one person--or it could just as well be a small group of people--can bring about change.)

Try this link that was posted over at MKF, hope they don't mind. I am not sure why the link in my previous post is not working.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2CTuTNlmUA

 

[seniorita]

I couldn't watch it either. Alas! But isn't it exciting that the Special Olympics is being held in the original home country of the Olympics.

honestly i dont know, it is a double edged sword, from one point the days are very hard now in Greece for hosting something like this, on the other hand it is a breath of fresh air and something worth watching tv for. I have many friends who are volunteers now and i m little jealous.

thanx for the link!

 

[Olympia]

I considered Greece's difficulties before I wrote my response, but I think it's generally a good thing to have an event like this even in tough times. Remember how so many Japanese GS posters said that watching the Japanese team at Worlds lifted their spirits. I hope the Special Olympics will bring in revenue from outside that can help a bit, and the games might also attract more tourism. Every little bit helps, I think. I think of you every time I hear the news about the economic situation. Really tough to hear about.

If your friends who are volunteering tell you anything about the proceedings, I hope you share with us! Maybe some of them will even see Michelle, at which point I will share your jealousy.

 

[Violet Bliss]

Just a few days ago, maybe last week, I came across a re-broadcast of a Canadian comic recounting his experience in Beijing Special Olympics last year. It was both hilarious and inspirational.

He was sent there because he had an artificial leg. After his initial puzzle at the perfuntory and nonchalant manner he was waved through at the airport metal detector despite he own hesitation, he suddenly realized "it's the Special Olympics! You're not so special, Princess!"

At a swim event, there was a Chinese man completely armless, without even a little stump. How the hell was he going to do his breast stroke? Turned out he was the fastest. Then of course the comic wondered how he was going to turn at the other end. Next the swimmer had to do the butterfly - it was the Medley event! The armless swimer fell back to 2nd and then 3rd. But the last style, the freestyle, was his specialty! He started surging ahead, passing the other swimmers ahead of him. Near the end of the pool and the race, his head was in front of the next competitor's. But he ended up second because the other swimmer had half an arm which he used to touch the finish wall first!

"Where else can a man think to himself, 'my half an arm sure came in handy!'"

Special indeed.

 

[Dee4707]

Brief Video of Michelle in Athens. Mathman she is looking very beautiful.

She does look beautiful and her hair is really long. I'm glad you warned Math, you know his heart, poor old guy!!!

 

[Olympia]

Well, if anyone deserves a lifelong fan club, it's Michelle. I'm proud to be a member also, though I'll have to root around on YouTube to find a video of her there that I can open.


Edit: I found a YouTube file!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2CTuTNlmUA

She does indeed look lovely, and she's very enthusiastic about the event. She says that despite the current problems in Greece, there are 25,000 volunteers for the Special Games. Wow! That is an impressive feat by Greece.

 

[seniorita]

Just a few days ago, maybe last week, I came across a re-broadcast of a Canadian comic recounting his experience in Beijing Special Olympics last year. It was both hilarious and inspirational. .

really great story! but did you mean he went to Paraolympics and not Special Olympics? \

Olympia if someone sees Michelle I ll tell you, not all of them know who she is, but the ones who do will alarm the rest
Im stil surprised they sent Michelle over to Special Olys, she represents Usa Fed.?

(But I can tell you the hotel that she s staying, I just saw your vid!)

 

[Mathman]

I'm still surprised they sent Michelle over to Special Olys, she represents Usa Fed.?

She is part of a special U.S. "Presidential Delegation" that includes Maria Shriver (um...ex-wife of the ex-governor of California) and Mrs. Jill Biden, wife of the U.S. Vice President. Michelle has been involved in the Special Olympics for some time, being part of the hosting delegation in 2009 (along with Vice President Joe Biden) when it was in the U.S. (Boise).

Michelle seems to be one of the go-to athletes of that whole crew. The Special Olympics were founded by Eustice Kennedy Shiver, sister of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Eustace Shriver died in 2009, and the new president of the Special Olympics Commission is her son, Timothy Shriver. Michelle was appointed to the California Health and Fitness Board (or whatever it is called?) by governor Arnold Scvhwarzeneger. And she was recently appointed to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, headed by U.S. first lady Michelle Obama.

 

[alithia]

I'm also a volunteer I've volunteered twice,back in 2004 for the summer games and now.Only getting the chance to see the faces of the athletes competing,was a highlight on its own.They were such a reflection of pure joy.
I didn't get the chance to see Michelle up close,but we saw her entering the stadium holding the Special Olympics flag with the other athletes,I also think they mentioned her on TV?At least that's what my friends told me.

As far as the crisis is concerned,I think that yes, things are difficult,but we are known of persevering in difficult situations,and the message the Special Olympics give is very importan,especially in situations like this one.

 

[Violet Bliss]

I actually told the story in response to Olympia's post about Greece's situation. This is the greatest time for Greece to host the Special Olympics.

I foretold a lot of what the world was coming to since 2004 at least. However, my perspective and state of spiritual evolution have changed a lot since then.

We are all in the Special Olympics now. An armless man can swim the Medley and beat almost all other competitors. Someone with half an arm can be so grateful to have it as a winning advantage. What is the advantage and special ability anybody has? It's your mind and what you decide you can do.

The greatest miracle I experienced in my life was in the late Eighties. It started in the Philippines. People had been oppressed and suffering under Marcos' rule for decades. There was no way out. Misery was accepted. Then one day people changed their mind and decided it would end. Almost overnight the ruthless iron fisted dictator was gone. The bloodless revolution that changed the unchangeable inspired oppressed people else where and one brutal regime fell after another in quick succession. The Berlin Wall crumbled literally. All the previous impossibilities dissolved instantly.

An individual human mind can do wonders. Nothing is impossible when there is a collective will. People just need to wake up, open their eyes and minds, and decide. Then miracles happen.

A crisis is the gateway to a new reality.

 

[seniorita]

I'm also a volunteer I've volunteered twice,back in 2004 for the summer games and now.Only getting the chance to see the faces of the athletes competing,was a highlight on its own.They were such a reflection of pure joy.
I didn't get the chance to see Michelle up close,but we saw her entering the stadium holding the Special Olympics flag with the other athletes,I also think they mentioned her on TV?At least that's what my friends told me.

As far as the crisis is concerned,I think that yes, things are difficult,but we are known of persevering in difficult situations,and the message the Special Olympics give is very importan,especially in situations like this one.

you are greek?