23 Jul 2015

Brightfield Shadi has been entrusted with the task of addressing nine head of states and top United Nations (UN) officials at the Special World Games in Los Angeles, US.

The 23-year-old from Tewane in the Central District is one of the 12 Special Olympics athletes selected as Sargent Shriver International Global Messengers (IGM) for the next four years. 

United States President, Barack Obama is expected to be among the 12 heads of states attending the summit. 

The global messengers are athletes with intellectual disabilities who represent Special Olympics and their countries as spokespersons and advocates. 

Sargent Shriver, who died four years ago aged 95, was the husband to Eunice Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics movement for athletes with intellectual disability. “The main issue at the top of my agenda as an IGM is to address issues concerning the welfare of Special Olympics athletes, in particular issues regarding their health,” Shadi said in an interview.

He said the health standard of people living with disabilities was not pleasing. He pointed out his vision to help raise awareness in this regard to ensure the world knows about challenges they face. 

Furthermore, Shadi said his other plans were to help Special Olympics athletes to exploit their talents. 

He said the talents should not only revolve around track and field activities, but they should be able to make a living after sports like venturing into business.

 A decorated athlete, Shadi is a 200 metres Special Olympics silver medallist, which he won in Greece in 2011. He has also won five gold medals and two silvers in track competitions at national level.

He said his journey was a tough one as he struggled to accept himself as a person living with intellectual disability because of the stigma and discrimination he was subjected to.

He credited his aunt, Grace Tlhobogang for motivating him to be involved in sports.

Shadi, who also seats in the athletes leadership council for the African region and facilitator for athlete leadership in Botswana, described the role as an important one because he gets to motivate and encourage other athletes living with intellectual disability to be leaders. 

“I am very excited to be part of the IGM. Honestly I have never thought I would go this far. It is a life time experience of which I am grateful for,” he said. 

He said although he becomes nervous when he thinks about addressing the US president, he was sure that this would enhance his spokesmanship attributes.

He pleaded with local sports authorities to help improve the well-being of Special Olympics athletes. 

He complained that in most cases when they compete locally there were limited first aid facilities and personnel.

Shadi takes over from Theo Tebele, who was the global messenger for the period 2000 – 2002. He left for the USA on Wednesday. Ends