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Special Olympics and SARS Fears
Aired May 19, 2003 - 15:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: As United Nations health officials gather for their annual meeting this week in Switzerland, the effect of the SARS virus has spread to the world of sports. CNN's Tom Mintier has more on the dashed hopes for members of the Hong Kong Special Olympics team.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM MINTIER, CNN BANGKOK BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): William Chang is one of Hong Kong's most successful special Olympians, who won seven gold medals in the '99 games in North Carolina. This year, William and other Special Olympic athletes will not have an opportunity to win a single medal or even attend the games in Ireland next month.
The Hong Kong team, as well as those from China, Taiwan, Singapore and the Philippines, have been told to stay home by Ireland's health minister because of SARS fears. The Hong Kong team had already taken measures to alleviate fears. It had cut the size of the team in half and agreed to isolate the team for 10 days under medical supervision before leaving for Ireland.
In a statement from Ireland's minister of health, Michael Martin, he admitted it was a difficult decision to ban athletes because of SARS, but stated it was for the protection of Ireland. The letter was delivered to Hong Kong Special Olympic organizers. In the notice, Martin claimed it was "a hard choice, but one that is in the best interest of wider community and public health."
In this letter from Ireland's organizers of the event, it stated the decision would have a "negative impact on the good relations between Hong Kong and Ireland." It also asked the health minister to reconsider his ruling. William Chang is, to say the least, disappointed.
WILLIAM CHANG, ATHLETE (through translator): It took a lot of training for a long time for me to win seven gold medals. If this SARS affects the Special Olympics, I feel it would be a great shame.
MINTIER: Organizers in Hong Kong are upset with the Irish decision to ban their athletes and claim it goes against the spirit of the games.
FAY HO, HONG KONG SPECIAL OLYMPICS DIRECTOR: Like a government doing -- to stop people -- athletes who compete, that is a sense like unfair to athletes. It quite against the Special Olympic mission. MINTIER (on camera): The issue is not limited to just the Special Olympics. The IOC, or International Olympic Committee, which will oversee the 2004 games in Athens, Greece, has addressed the SARS issue. The IOC's president has already warned against what he called, "an overzealous approach to SARS." But that is exactly what many members of Hong Kong Special Olympics believe is happening to them.
Tom Mintier, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: Well, what's for sure is every one of those Special Olympians is an inspiration.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 19, 2003 - 15:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: As United Nations health officials gather for their annual meeting this week in Switzerland, the effect of the SARS virus has spread to the world of sports. CNN's Tom Mintier has more on the dashed hopes for members of the Hong Kong Special Olympics team.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM MINTIER, CNN BANGKOK BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): William Chang is one of Hong Kong's most successful special Olympians, who won seven gold medals in the '99 games in North Carolina. This year, William and other Special Olympic athletes will not have an opportunity to win a single medal or even attend the games in Ireland next month.
The Hong Kong team, as well as those from China, Taiwan, Singapore and the Philippines, have been told to stay home by Ireland's health minister because of SARS fears. The Hong Kong team had already taken measures to alleviate fears. It had cut the size of the team in half and agreed to isolate the team for 10 days under medical supervision before leaving for Ireland.
In a statement from Ireland's minister of health, Michael Martin, he admitted it was a difficult decision to ban athletes because of SARS, but stated it was for the protection of Ireland. The letter was delivered to Hong Kong Special Olympic organizers. In the notice, Martin claimed it was "a hard choice, but one that is in the best interest of wider community and public health."
In this letter from Ireland's organizers of the event, it stated the decision would have a "negative impact on the good relations between Hong Kong and Ireland." It also asked the health minister to reconsider his ruling. William Chang is, to say the least, disappointed.
WILLIAM CHANG, ATHLETE (through translator): It took a lot of training for a long time for me to win seven gold medals. If this SARS affects the Special Olympics, I feel it would be a great shame.
MINTIER: Organizers in Hong Kong are upset with the Irish decision to ban their athletes and claim it goes against the spirit of the games.
FAY HO, HONG KONG SPECIAL OLYMPICS DIRECTOR: Like a government doing -- to stop people -- athletes who compete, that is a sense like unfair to athletes. It quite against the Special Olympic mission. MINTIER (on camera): The issue is not limited to just the Special Olympics. The IOC, or International Olympic Committee, which will oversee the 2004 games in Athens, Greece, has addressed the SARS issue. The IOC's president has already warned against what he called, "an overzealous approach to SARS." But that is exactly what many members of Hong Kong Special Olympics believe is happening to them.
Tom Mintier, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: Well, what's for sure is every one of those Special Olympians is an inspiration.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
