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Fungai Muderere . . .
THE Special Olympics Africa 2018-2022 Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger, Nyasha Derera, will lead the campaign for a more inclusive world for people with intellectual disabilities.
That was revealed at the end of last week and Derera joins nine other global representatives from 172 countries in the world.
A Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger is a very important role in the movement. In 1998, as part of our 30th anniversary, 12 athletes were identified to become the face of Special Olympics globally as a way to signal a shift to athletes representing the movement as leaders.
“Every four years, a new class of athlete leaders is given the opportunity to showcase their talents as spokespersons, mostly at World Games and Nyasha Derera will be joining this new class, a first for an athlete in Zimbabwe to carry this torch. Through their participation and leadership at world, regional and local events — both internal and external to the Special Olympics movement — they challenge and change the mindset of political leaders, policy-makers, educators, employers, and society,” said national director for Special Olympics Zimbabwe Viola Musariri.
Derera takes over the ambassadorial role from Botswana’s Mpho Katse for the next five years.
He holds an impressive 16 gold medals, six silver and one bronze from the national competitions and internationally he has one bronze he attained from the United States of America (USA) and several certificates up his sleeves.
His specialty is the 400 metre to 42 km races.
Derera (21) will advocate for meaningful inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities as well as develop a Personal Activation Plan that will help him determine a mission statement for his term and plan activities in select focus areas and topics.
Through speeches, social media channels, and external engagement promote topics of importance to the movement, for example Athlete Leadership, Youth Engagement, Unified Sports and or promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles.
Online Reporter