Special Olympics athletes Celine and Ionut were among the guest speakers at a recent special event at the European Parliament honoring the incredible career of Special Olympics Global Ambassador Nadia Comaneci – and the power of inclusive sport.
On March 17, Special Olympics Belgium Athlete Celine Ramakers and Special Olympics Romania Athlete Ionut Bonescu was among the honored guests and speakers at a unique event hosted by Victor Negrescu, Vice President of the European Parliament. This gathering honored the impressive sporting career of Special Olympics Global Ambassador Nadia Comaneci, especially her 50th anniversary.y Anniversary of the famous “Perfect 10” score at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Nadia, a lifelong supporter of Special Olympics and attending local, regional and global events for many decades, delivered a moving keynote address, passionately emphasizing the power of sport to truly change the world.
Celine Ramaekers of Special Olympics Belgium echoed these sentiments and emphasized the important role Nadia played in inspiring the next generation of athletes. She said: “Role models are so important on this journey. Nadia Comaneci is an incredible inspiration to so many people around the world. Her dedication, courage and achievements in gymnastics show us what is possible when you believe in yourself and work hard.”
Although Nadia is a world-famous athlete, she naturally holds a special place in the hearts of her fellow Romanians who have watched her represent them in amazing fashion on the world stage throughout her career. For Ionut Bonescu, a Romanian Special Olympics gymnast, Nadia’s honor was of special significance, he noted in his speech.
He said: “Nadia has inspired generations of gymnasts around the world, including me. Thank you Nadia for supporting us. Your example reminds people that we belong and that our achievements matter.”
Incoming Special Olympics European Eurasia President, Sven AlbrechtIt reinforced the importance of supporters like Nadia and European institutions in driving forward the inclusive sport agenda in Europe and around the world. “We are grateful for Nadia’s long-standing leadership in the Special Olympics movement globally, just as we are grateful to the European Union for its steadfast support of inclusion through sport over many years. Athletes across our region and beyond are already reaping the benefits of the European Union’s support for our efforts,” he said. Summer World Games in Berlin in 2023 And we have World Winter Games in Turin in 2025 “And we know that this legacy will be felt for many years to come.”
Commenting on the event, Victor Negrescu, Vice President of the European Parliament and a strong advocate for the Special Olympics, noted on his Instagram account, “Having Nadia here, together with the great champions who made Romania proud and the young people who are following in her footsteps, was more than just a celebration. It was an inspiring moment and a real lesson in courage, hard work and achieving dreams. Nadia is a great champion and today she has become a symbol of excellence who has amazed us all with her humility and modesty.” This was felt by all our guests from European institutions and from the world of sports.
Other speakers at the event included Vice-President of the European Parliament Katharina Parly and European Commissioner for Rights, Social Skills, Job Quality and Readiness, Roxana Menzato, who used the opportunity to draw attention to the strong work that Special Olympics is doing in moving inclusive sport forward.
