Belgian athletes campaign for Special Olympics

A trio of top Belgian athletes has launched a remarkable publicity campaign in support of the Special Olympics. The campaign involves photos of footballer Kevin De Bruyne, sprinter Kim Gevaert and table-tennis player Jean-Michel Saive, doctored to give each of them the distinct appearance of someone with Down’s Syndrome, and the question: “Would you still be a fan if I looked like this?”

The Special Olympics European Summer Games take place in Antwerp from September 9-20, but organisers think that the event will not receive the attention it merits. “An example of this problem is the reception given to the Belgian delegation after the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens [in 2011],” organisers said in a statement. “Despite the 83 medals they were bringing home, there was no-one outside a handful of family members waiting for them at Zaventem. No applause. No cheering. Not a banner to be seen.”

More than 2,000 athletes from 58 countries will take part in 10 disciplines in Antwerp, including swimming, gymnastics and athletics. All sporting events are free and open to the public. Only the opening ceremony in Brussels Expo and the closing ceremony in the Sportpaleis require tickets.

A video of the local campaign can be viewed on YouTube.

photo: Kevin De Bruyne and a Special Olympics athlete become one in a new campaign