Austrian Scouts and Guides will volunteer at the Special Olympics World Games 2017

Last week, Dominik Habsburg-Lothringen, President of Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs , the National Scout Organisation in Austria, joined representatives of the Österreichisches Rote Kreuz (Austrian Red Cross) and the Steirische Landjugend (Rural Youth of Styria) in Schladming (Styria), one of the host cities of next year’s Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017, when they signed a cooperation agreements with the Host Committee of the event.

“With more then 80000 affiliates, the Scouts and Guides of Austria are part of the world’s largest Child and Youth Movement, the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). You find Scouts and Guides in all corners of the world – and therefore also in the countries of the athletes who will gather at the Special Olympics 2017 in Austria next year,” Mr Habsburg-Lothringen explained.

The Scouts and Guides of Austria join the Host Town Programme of the Speical Olympics 2017

“Our programme aims at educating the children and young people in our Movement to responsible citizens to be able to find their place and fulfil their role in our society, their families and local communities for the benefit of all. This also means that we integrate people with special physical and mental needs in our groups.”

“The new Scout year has just started and this year’s motto is “Black? White? Colourful!“: many activities on national and local level will adress questions of diversity and inclusion! One of our objectives is to reach out to children and young people of different parts of our society who may not yet be involved with Scouting and Guiding, for the benefit of these young people and our current members.”

“It is in this spirit that the Scouts and Guides of Austria have decided to become actively involved in the Special Olympics World Games 2017 and to offer their experience and expertise in the area of diversity and inclusion!”

The Scouts and Guides will join members of local Rotary Clubs and provide their services as part of the Host Town Programme in Styria in March 2017.

Source of image: GEPA Pictures / Special Olympics