Special Olympics begins 50th anniversary festivities with Global Day of Inclusion
Katie Xu is having one of the most exciting weeks of her young life.
She’s starring in a new ad campaign celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics and on Saturday, as part of Global Day of Inclusion, she and her family are going to go to their local Tim Hortons where speciality donuts will be sold to support the charity and its athletes.
Xu competes in figure skating, swimming and soccer, and has won several medals at the Special Olympics. The new TV commercial shows her, as well as fellow athletes Connor Bissett and Mark Peddle training for their sports but also applying lessons from the program to their day-to-day lives.
“The Special Olympics has changed my life,” said the 20-year-old Xu from her home in Ottawa. “To make friends, meet new people, and get to travel with my team and having fun playing sports.”