Summit Part of 2017 World Winter Games Activity

Editor’s Note: Special Olympics athlete Tori Cobb and Unified Partner Lindsey Wagner of Murray were selected to participate in the Special Olympics Global Social Impact Summit that was held in conjunction with the Special Olympics World Winter games in Austria. They shared their thoughts about the experience.

From Tori Cobb:

It was great opportunity going to Austria for the Special Olympics global youth leadership summit 2017. I learned a lot about different leadership styles in different sessions and I got to meet a lot of people from around the world & what their projects were about. We did a lot of group sessions where we had to come up with ideas. One day we got to take a tour of  the city Graz, Austria. I want to thank everybody for the opportunity to go to see how I can improve being a leader.

From Lindsey Wagner:

Going to Austria was an unbelievable experience that I will never forget. I was introduced to diverse cultures and people that opened my eyes to a world of opportunities. The variety of people were from all over the world. There were individuals from 18 countries; including Peru, Pakistan, Indonesia, Scotland, England, Africa, and India. One of my favorite things about the week was going to the Cultural Night. The Cultural Night was where everyone in the summit dressed in the traditional clothing, from their country and brought items from their countries to give away. Along with the attire, each country danced to a song that reminded them of their home. Everyone ended up dancing and sharing their gifts from their countries. We were able to tour the beautiful city of Graz as well. I learned how different our world is, especially when It comes to opportunities for individuals with disabilities. I see how hard people work towards making their country more inclusive, which makes me appreciate how supportive and hardworking Special Olympics North America really is. We attended multiple meetings throughout the week, learning about leadership skills, budgeting, and the steps we need to take to implement this grant. I will forever be grateful for the memories, lifelong friends, and unforgettable experiences.

See more photos from Tori and Lindsey at the Global Social Impact Summit