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What a joy to welcome the Special Olympics to the UW  

It is truly wonderful to have the Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Games in Seattle this year, and the University of Washington is honored to have many of the events on our campus this week, beginning with Sunday’s opening ceremonies. Part of what made the ceremony so meaningful was hearing from so many different people, including athletes, elected officials and business leaders, about why inclusion matters and how we all benefit when everyone’s talents and voices are welcome. I think Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics International, may have put it best when he said, “Exclusion is always wrong.” I hope everyone in our community will find an opportunity to share in the joy and excitement of the games this year and that we will all seek out ways to infuse the Games’ spirit of inclusion in everything we do.

The 2018 Special Olympics opening ceremonies at Husky Stadium
The 2018 Special Olympics opening ceremonies at Husky Stadium
UW President Ana Mari Cauce, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and President of Kaiser Permanente Washington, Susan Mullaney
Getting ready to enter Husky Stadium with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and President of Kaiser Permanente Washington, Susan Mullaney
Representatives of the Coast Salish Sea Peoples at the Special Olympics opening ceremonies
Representatives of the Coast Salish Sea Peoples at the Special Olympics opening ceremonies
Chairman of Special Olympics Tim Shriver
Chairman of Special Olympics Tim Shriver emphasized the value of inclusion