Welcome Speech by Mr. Stavros Andreadis, Chairman of the Governing Council,Theophano Foundation

Honorable Ministers, Honorable Mayor,

Honorable Chairman and distinguished Members of the Governing and the Advisory Council of our Foundation,

Distinguished guests of ours, representatives of so many different countries, members of a global society,

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the partners of the Theophano Foundation, a group of fellows on this journey called the “Empress Theophano Award”, I welcome you with real pleasure, I would say perhaps with emotion, to this year’s – hopefully fifth – award.

Reflecting on this journey of 5 years to date, one realizes that a stable axis and common ground of this noble, romantic initiative, was and remains Man.

It was the young people of Europe who, through the Erasmus programme, have been bridging their perception of the European continent, where they have been inhabiting for 37 years but also for the whole world.

It was the people across the globe who were saved with the discovery of the coronavirus vaccine by Dr. Ugur Sahin and Dr. Özlem Türeci and they were filled with hope for their return to normality.

It was the musicians who dared to bridge the differences between religions and peoples through their common love for art, with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, the unique initiative of the great conductor and humanitarian, Daniel Barenboim.

Finally, it was the millions of people who were protected in extreme conditions of crisis, with the decisions and actions of the United Nations, under the leadership of their Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Our goal has always been to go back to the common roots of our European identity and to highlight our European and universal values, which show us the way: the way to respect the life of each person, the way to a better global society in a world of cooperation and mutual understanding. All that should in no way be lost. Especially today, when heavy clouds of tension, intolerance and violence are starting to gather again.

It was this path that the legendary princess of Byzantium and later Empress of the Western Roman Empire, Theophano, carved many centuries ago, achieving the unbelievable for that time: to bridge cultures and bring people closer.

This year, I would say perhaps more emphatically than ever, the Empress Theophano Award focuses on Man: on his will, his strength, his effort, which never stops despite all the adversities.

In other words, the joy of life.

This year’s award highlights these human values, through the example of Special Olympics, athletes and their volunteers, which are summarized in the following wise words:

“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

And this is the deeper meaning of today’s award: the bravery of the attempt.

The people of Special Olympics, athletes and volunteers, every day, having Sports as their vehicle, transcend themselves, change their lives and transform society itself through their example.

And the Special Olympics International organization, its starting point and vision, is an example of a very difficult and truly brave endeavor: an original idea by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, which quickly evolved into a global movement that today supports 6 million people with intellectual disabilities in 200 countries around the world.

 

Honorable Chairman of Special Olympics,

Dear Dr. Timothy Shriver,

Thank you very much for being here today.

By presenting this award to you, we embrace power, not disability,

we embrace joy for life, not adversity.

We bow our head with respect to the strength of the athletes themselves, but also to your admirable perseverance to create a world where everyone is accepted, welcomed and celebrated.

To your insistence on highlighting this power, the rights of people with intellectual disabilities, and the need for an inclusive society.

Quoting your words:

Disability rights are human rights

Everyone has a right to participate in society.

Everyone has gifts, to celebrate. “

Welcome to this historic very old city of Thessaloniki and to this unique Rotunda monument for today’s ceremony, a celebration of joy with the award of the Special Olympics.

We truly admire what you do and wish you the strength to continue.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

With the same principles, the Theophano Foundation and the leading personalities from all over Europe, who join their ideas and forces by participating enthusiastically in this initiative, will continue to highlight initiatives that bring us closer to the dream of a better world. A world where everyone has an equal right to the joy of life.

Thank you.