Coverage of Special Olympics – Where were the major television networks?
The major television media didn’t think the Special Olympics were special, nor Olympics.
Katie Couric hadn’t the faintest idea of any contestants, though her likable style would dictate that she did. There are always plenty of stories at the Special Olympics.
The United States Vice President was ignored as if he were not here in Idaho cheering on these special people. The participants were enthusiastic about his visit. The national television media was not.
The local television channels asked, “Where’s the national coverage?
People in China complained that they had competing athletes, but there was no coverage. Well, that was true for Idaho. We had no coverage here. Well, some.
Even PBS had little or no interest.
US Vice President Announces Appointment of Special Assistant to Disability Policy
Vice President Biden said President Obama was concerned about the Olympics. During his visit to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho, on Feb. 12, he announced that Kareem Dale had been named Special Assistant to the President on Disability Policy. Dale’s appointment marked the first time a U.S. president had a special assistant devoted solely to disability policy.
Biden said, “The commitment the president and I have to Special Olympics, and people with disabilities is deep and enduring. And we’re backing those words with real action in the White House,” Biden said. “This is our first step in ensuring we have a strong advocate for people with disabilities at the highest level of our administration.” He added that the nation needs policy changes that Americans with disabilities can get and stay in jobs without worrying about losing state-funded health insurance or other assistance. “This is a civil rights movement,” Biden said. “There is a need for policy changes.”
But that was not important to the national media. Why should they call such trivia? Kareem Dale is partially blind, but not as blind as the national media.
Biden looked at ice skating. Five couples entered: Jose Visiconty and Brenda Monreal, Special Olympics Mexico; Tobias Werner and Cristin Ziebe, Special Olympics Germany; and three pairs of Special Olympics Chinese Taipei – I Han Pan and I Ju Wang; Keng Shan Chang and Sung Chien Sung; and Kuei Ying Lin and Fang Ting Hung.
Biden presented medals to the couples, and Kwan gave them bouquets. Read the story on the Special Olympic website.
So over 2,000 athletes come to Idaho from all over the world to compete in the Special Olympics, and the national media couldn’t find a damn story?
Well, there were over 2000 stories.