President of Iceland Named to the Special Olympics International Board; Photo Available 4/19/2004
From: Jo-Ann Enwezor of the Special Olympics, 202-824-0328 or jenwezor@specialolympics.org WASHINGTON, April 19 -- Special Olympics welcomes President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson as the newest member of its International Board of Directors. As the current president of Iceland, Grimsson is the first head of state appointed to the board. The Special Olympics Board is the ultimate governing authority for the entire Special Olympics Movement. Its members manage the global affairs and strategies of Special Olympics; determine its policies and programs; and oversee top-level management. Members represent a great depth of professional expertise from diverse careers and geographic backgrounds, ranging from marketing and communications to intellectual disabilities. "We are fortunate to have the passionate commitment of President Grimsson," said Timothy Shriver, chairman and CEO of Special Olympics, Inc. "It's this kind of accomplished leadership and influential advocacy that will help catapult the growth of the Special Olympics Movement throughout the world and influence attitude change toward people with intellectual disabilities." "My attendance at the Special Olympics World Games in the United States in 1999 and in Ireland in 2003 are among the most moving experiences I have encountered during my presidency," said President Grimsson at a press conference today. "I have been profoundly moved and inspired by the dedication and courage of all the people involved in the Special Olympics Movement, a Movement which is certainly one of the most outstanding and remarkable forms of international cooperation in our times. The entire world will deeply benefit from the growing strength of Special Olympics and I hope that I can be of some help in furthering the goals of Special Olympics in the years to come." Grimsson has been the president of Iceland since 1996 and has had a distinguished career in politics and scientific research, both in Iceland and internationally. He was Iceland's Minister of Finance in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and a member of the Parliament for a number of years. In the '80s and '90s, Grimsson was also the president of Parliamentarians for Global Action, a network of political leaders from nearly 100 countries, working closely with many presidents, prime ministers and other international leaders on a number of successful international projects. In this capacity, Grimsson cooperated extensively with many members of the United States Congress. In the 1970s he became the first professor of Political Science at the University of Iceland and is the author of many scholarly works. He is married to Dorrit Moussaieff, a jewelry designer who was born in Jerusalem. For a complete list of Special Olympics Board of Directors, please visit http://www.specialolympics.org. Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. Through year- round sports training and athletic competition and other related programming for more than 1.3 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries, Special Olympics has created a model community that celebrates people's diverse gifts. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. Visit Special Olympics online at http://www.specialolympics.org. ------ Editor's note: High resolution, publication-ready photo(s) supporting this story available for free editorial use at: http://www.wirepix.com/newsphotos/ |