Act like your institutional role, speaking responsibly and respectfully, Special Olympics Cyprus has advised Feidias Panayiotou, following his derogatory mental disability remark on a podcast with a paralympic swimming athlete.
'Is this where crazies compete?', he told the paralympic swimmer, who was explaining the different categories of Paralympic Games.
The Special Olympics Federation makes clear that the use of language which ridicules, devalues and dehumanises people with mental disability is not in line with respect to human dignity and runs contrary to the values of equality, social participation and inclusion.
Such expressions, the Federation said in a statement, 'embolden stereotypes and undermine institutional and social efforts at integration.'
It further underscores that public remarks by people with an institutional role and social influence, brings with it more responsibility, as it forms part of shaping attitudes and opinions.
Ignoring or sidelining such comments as 'humorous or isolated slips of the tongue do not take away from the severity of their content and their repercussions in public dialogue', the Federation also indicates.
Special Olympics calls on Feidias Panayiotou to make things right, commenting with institutional responsibility and respect, thus recognising the public importance and influence of his statements.
In conclusion, the Federation notes steadfast commitment to its institutional role towards defending the dignity, rights and equal participation of people with mental disability and vows to maintain responsible interventions against every form of verbal assault and social exclusion.
SOURCE-CNA