Johannesburg is joining iconic landmarks around the world, who are all turning red in a global display of unity on July 20.
Special Olympics South Africa will flick the switch and turn on the Nelson Mandela statue red in a global display of unity on July 20 as part of the Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Celebration. The act represents the dawn of the Inclusion Revolution—Special Olympics’ mission to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities (ID) worldwide and create inclusive communities.
“Assisting us to celebrate the lighting of the statue are Special Olympics Chairman, Dr Mathews Phosa, Special Olympics ambassadors, Mark Fish, Letshego Zulu, Gin and Soldier boy McLellan, Kim Jayde, Melanie Ramjee, Lil Red and Special Olympics Supporter, John Vlismas just to name a few.”
Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education and leadership programs every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1968, and celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 5 million athletes and Unified partners in more than 170 countries.
With the support of more than 1 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympictype sports and over 108,000 games and competitions throughout the year.
In addition to the Nelson Mandela statue, more than 70 landmarks worldwide will participate in the Light Up for Inclusion initiative, creating a global display of tolerance, respect and celebration of difference.
Major global landmarks participating in Light Up for Inclusion include, but are not limited to the following:
1. ADNOC HQ building & YAS Viceroy Hotel, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
2. African Renaissance Monument, Dakar, Senegal
3. Amman Citadel, Amman, Jordan
4. London Eye & Piccadilly sign, London, UK
5. Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea
6. The Royal Palace, Bucharest, Romania
7. Angel of Independence, Mexico City, Mexico
8. Administration Building Panama Canal, Panama
9. Nelson Mandela Statue, Johannesburg, South Africa
10. Niagara Falls, USA and Canada
11. Prudential Buildings, Willis Tower & more, Chicago, USA
12. Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan
13. Superdome, New Orleans, USA
14. The Esplanade & Singapore Flyer, Singapore
15. The Water Cute, Beijing, China
Light Up for Inclusion is part of the action-packed Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Celebration taking place in Chicago from July 17-21. Chicago is the birthplace of the first International Special Olympics Summer Games, which were held at Soldier Field in July 1968.
Special Olympics athletes, coaches, supporters and celebrities from around the globe will gather in Chicago for the 50th Anniversary to commemorate 50 years of joy, courage and empowerment, and participate in a weekend filled with inspiring events.
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