Special Olympics let me be myself — a champion | Matthew Williams

翻译人员: Li Li 校对人员: Mingyu Cui

Hello.

大家好

My name is Matthew Williams,

我的名字叫马修·威廉姆斯

and I am a champion.

我是一名冠军

I have won medals in three different sports

我曾在三种不同的运动中

and national games in Canada,

以及加拿大全运会中获得奖牌

competed at the international level in basketball

我参与过是国际级别的篮球项目

and was proud to represent Canada

并且我为能代表加拿大走向世界舞台

on the world stage.

感到十分骄傲

(Applause)

（掌声）

I train five days a week for basketball and speed skating,

我每周都有五天与顶级的教练和心理作业咨询师一起

work with top quality coaches

训练篮球和竞速滑冰

and mental performance consultants

to be at my best in my sport.

来保持最好的竞技状态

By the way, all that is through Special Olympics.

补充一下，这些都是因为特殊奥林匹克运动会

Does that change the way you think of me

这有没有让你们对我

and my accomplishments?

以及我的成就有所改观呢？

The world does not see all people like me as champions.

这个世界并没有把所有像我一样的人当成冠军

Not long ago, people like me were shunned and hidden away.

不久以前，像我这样的人是不被待见的

There has been lots of change since Special Olympics began in 1968,

自从1968年的特殊奥林匹克运动会开始， 这种现象得到很大的改善

but in too many cases,

但现实中还是经常可以看到

people with intellectual disabilities

相比普通人来说

are invisible to the wider population.

智力有缺陷的人常被视而不见

People use the r-word in front of me, and they think it doesn't matter.

人们在我面前用“傻”字叫我，以为我会无所谓

That's the word "retard" or "retarded"

他们叫我“傻子”，说我迟钝

used in a derogatory manner.

完全是贬义的用法

They're not thinking about how much it hurts me and my friends.

他们不知道这对我和我朋友伤害有多大。

I don't want you to think I'm here because I'm a charity case.

我不想让你们觉得我出现在这里是为了得到怜悯

I am here because there is still a big problem with the way

我在这里，是因为这个问题还存在：

many people see individuals with intellectual disabilities,

还有很多人看待智力缺陷的人的方式有问题

or, too often,

或者，更多的

how they don't see them at all.

许多人根本就不认可他们的存在

Did you know the World Games happened this year?

你们都知道世界运动会是今年举办的吧？

I was one of over 6,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities

我是6500名智力缺陷运动员中的一员

from 165 countries who competed in LA.

我们来自165个国家，在洛杉矶比赛

There was over 62,000 spectators watching opening ceremonies,

当时有超过62000名观众观看开幕式

and there was live coverage on TSN and ESPN.

而且TSN和ESPN还直播了

Did you even know that happened?

可你们知道这件事吗？

What do you think of when you see someone like me?

当你看到像我一样的人的时候，你会怎么想？

I am here today to challenge you

我今天来到这里

to look at us as equals.

就是想大胆提出，将我们平等看待

Special Olympics transforms the self-identity of athletes

特殊奥林匹克运动会改变了

with intellectual disabilities

智力缺陷运动员的自我认识

and the perceptions of everyone watching.

也改变了观众的看法

For those of you who aren't familiar,

如果你们不熟悉特殊奥林匹克运动会

Special Olympics is for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

我来解释一下，它就是给智力有缺陷的人设立的

Special Olympics is separate from the Paralympics and Olympics.

它独立于残奥会和奥运会

We offer high-quality, year round sports programs

我们有高质量的、专门给智力缺陷的选手的、全年的运动项目

for people with intellectual disabilities

that changes lives and perceptions.

这些项目能改变我们的命运和对我们的认知的

This movement has changed my life

特殊奥运会改变了我的生活

and those of so many others.

也改变了很多人的生活

And it has changed the way

同时也改变了这个世界看待智力缺陷人群的看法

the world sees people with intellectual disabilities.

I was born with epilepsy and an intellectual disability.

我出生时就患有癫痫以及智力缺陷

Growing up, I played hockey until I was 12 years old.

12岁之前，我一直都是打曲棍球

The older I got, the more I felt

越长大，就越觉得要跟上别人愈来愈困难

it was harder to keep up with everyone else,

and I was angry and frustrated.

我感到生气沮丧

For a while, I did not play any sports,

有一段时间，我没有接触任何体育运动

didn't have many friends

没有多少朋友

and felt left out and sad.

感觉自己被遗弃，无人问津

There was a time when people with intellectual disabilities

曾经有这么一段时间，智力缺陷的人

were hidden away from society.

是被这个社会隔离开来，不被公开的

No one thought they could participate in sports,

没人会觉得他们也能参加体育运动

let alone be a valued member of society.

更别说成为社会有价值的一员

In the 1960s, Dr. Frank Hayden,

在20世纪60年代，弗兰克·海登博士

a scientist at the University of Toronto,

多伦多大学的一名科学家

was studying the effects of regular exercise

他当时在研究正常运动

on the fitness levels of children with intellectual disabilities.

对智力缺陷儿童的健康程度的影响

Using rigorous scientific research,

海登博士以及其他研究人员

Dr. Hayden and other researchers

通过严谨的科学研究

came to the conclusion

得出了一个结论：

that it was simply the lack of opportunity to participate

导致智力缺陷儿童的他们健康程度下降的原因

that caused their fitness levels to suffer.

仅仅是缺乏运动的机会

Lots of people doubted that people with intellectual disabilities

很多人质疑智力缺陷的人

could benefit from fitness programs

能从运动项目

and sports competition opportunities.

或体育竞技中受益

But pioneers like Dr. Hayden and Eunice Kennedy Shriver,

但正是因为有海登博士，

以及特殊奥林匹克运动会创始人尤尼斯·肯尼迪·谢里夫

the founder of Special Olympics,

persevered,

他们坚持运动的好处

and Special Olympics athletes have proved them right

而且特殊奥林匹克运动员

four and a half million times over.

不下四百五十万次证明了运动的确有好处

(Applause)

（掌声）

Before I joined Special Olympics,

在我参加特殊奥林匹克运动会之前

I was nervous

我是容易紧张的人

because I was young, shy, not confident

因为我年轻害羞，没自信

and didn't have many friends.

也没多少朋友

When I got there, though, everyone was very encouraging,

但我到了那里，却发现每个人都很友善

supportive, and let me be myself

很乐于助人，不歧视我

without being judged.

让我做回我自己

Now, I am a basketball player and speed skater

现在，我是一名篮球运动员， 也是一名竞速滑冰运动员

who has competed at provincial, national games,

参加过省级和国家级比赛

and this year made it all the way to the World Summer Games in LA,

而且今年还参加了在洛杉矶的 夏季特殊奥林匹克运动会

where I was part of the first ever Canadian basketball team

在那里，我代表的是第一届加拿大篮球运动员

to compete at World Games.

参加世界比赛

(Applause)

（掌声）

I am one of more than four and a half million athletes around the globe,

我是世界上这四百五十万名运动员中的一份子

and I've heard so many similar stories.

我也听说过很多相似的故事

Being Special Olympics athletes

成为特殊奥林匹克运动会的运动员

restores our pride and dignity.

帮我们拾回自信和尊严

Special Olympics also addresses critical health needs.

这个运动会也指出了重要的健康需求

Studies have shown that, on average,

研究表明，平均来看

men with intellectual disabilities

智力缺陷的男人

die 13 years younger than men without,

比没有智力缺陷的男人要少活13年

and women with intellectual disabilities

而智力缺陷的女人

die 20 years younger than women without.

比没有智力缺陷的女人要少活20年

Special Olympics keeps us healthy

特殊奥林匹克运动会让我们保持健康

by getting us active

让我们主动地参与到运动中来

and participating in sport.

Also, our coaches teach us about nutrition and health.

我们的教练也教会我们营养与健康

Special Olympics also provides free health screening

特殊奥林匹克运动会也会提供免费的健康体检

for athletes who have difficulty communicating with their doctor

给那些和他们的医生沟通有困难的运动员

or accessing health care.

或者是难以得到健康关注的运动员

At the 2015 World Summer Games,

在2015年的夏季特殊奥林匹克运动会

my Team Canada teammates and I played the Nigerian basketball team.

我的加拿大队伍的队员和我 一起对抗尼日利亚篮球队

The day before our game,

比赛的前一天

the Nigerian basketball team went to the World Games Healthy Athlete screening,

尼日利亚篮球队队员参加了运动会的健康系统体检

where seven of 10 members

10名队员中的7名

were given hearing aids for free

得到了免费的助听器

and got to hear clearly for the first time.

人生第一次听得更清楚

(Applause)

（掌声）

The change in them was amazing.

给他们带来的变化是很惊人的

They were more excited, happy and confident,

他们更加兴奋，开心，自信

because their coach could vocally communicate with them.

因为他们的教练终于能用语言和他们交流了

And they were emotional

他们非常容易激动

because they could hear the sounds of the basketball,

因为他们能听到篮球的声音了

the sounds of the whistle

哨子的声音

and the cheering fans in the stands --

还有站在旁边的粉丝的欢呼声

sounds that we take for granted.

那些我们认为理所应当存在的声音。

Special Olympics is transforming more than just the athlete in their sport.

特殊奥林匹克运动会不单在运动员的体育方面改变他们

Special Olympics is transforming their lives off the field.

它同时也在运动员的生活方面改变他们

This year, research findings showed

今年，研究表明

that nearly half of the adults in the US

在美国接近半数的成年人

don't know a single person with an intellectual disability,

对于智力缺陷的人一个也不认识

and the 44 percent of Americans

44%的没有与智力缺陷的人接触的美国人

who don't have personal contact with intellectual disabilities

are significantly less accepting and positive.

明显的更不宽容，态度更不积极

Then there's the r-word,

然后带“傻”字的词

proving that people with intellectual disabilities

证明了智力缺陷的人

are still invisible

依旧被视而不见

to far too many people.

感觉与世隔绝

People use it as a casual term or an insult.

人们用这个词，要么随口说说，要么骂人

It was tweeted more than nine million times last year,

去年在推特上，被用了超过九百万次

and it is deeply hurtful

这深深伤害到了我

to me and my four and a half million fellow athletes around the planet.

以及这个世界上四百五十万运动员同伴

People don't think it's insulting,

人们不觉得这是在骂人

but it is.

但它确实是

As my fellow athlete and global messenger John Franklin Stephens wrote

我的运动员同伴，也是全球信使 富兰克林·史蒂芬斯

in an open letter to a political pundit

他给一个曾用“傻”词来骂人的政治评论家写了一封信

who used the r-word as an insult,

"Come join us someday at Special Olympics.

“找一天来看特殊奥林匹克运动会吧，

See if you walk away with your heart unchanged."

看在你离开的时候，是否仍想法不变。”

(Applause)

（掌声）

This year, at the 2015 World Summer Games,

今年，在2015年夏季特殊奥林匹克运动会

people lined up for hours

人们排了好几小时队

to get into the final night of powerlifting competition.

就是为了看最后一晚的举重比赛

So it was standing room only when my teammate Jackie Barrett,

当我的队友杰基·巴雷特上场时，人们都站了起来

the Newfoundland Moose,

他被称为纽芬兰驼鹿

deadlifted 655 pounds

他硬拉起来665磅

and lifted 611 pounds in the squat --

并且蹲起举起了611磅

(Applause)

（掌声）

setting huge new records for Special Olympics.

为特殊奥林匹克运动会传下了多项新纪录

Jackie is a record holder among all powerlifters in Newfoundland --

杰基是纽芬兰举重选手中的记录保持者

not just Special Olympics, all powerlifters.

不仅仅是特殊奥林匹克运动会，而是全部举重选手。

Jackie was a huge star in LA,

杰基现在在洛杉矶算是大明星了

and ESPN live-tweeted his record-breaking lifts

ESPN也实时发了关于他打破举重记录的推特

and were wowed by his performance.

并且为他的表现而震惊

Fifty years ago, few imagined individuals with intellectual disabilities

50年前，几乎没人可以想象智力缺陷的人

could do anything like that.

可以做到这样

This year, 60,000 spectators filled the famous LA Memorial Coliseum

今年，六万观众填满了著名的洛杉矶纪念体育馆

to watch the opening ceremonies of World Games

观看了比赛的开幕式

and cheer athletes from 165 countries

也为来自世界165个国家

around the world.

的运动员喝彩

Far from being hidden away,

我们受到祝贺和欢呼，而不再是被掩藏起来

we were cheered and celebrated.

Special Olympics teaches athletes

特殊奥林匹克运动会教会运动员们

to be confident and proud of themselves.

更加自信，更加以己为豪

Special Olympics teaches the world

特殊奥林匹克运动会也教会这个世界

that people with intellectual disabilities

有智力缺陷的人

deserve respect and inclusion.

也值得被尊重被包含

(Applause)

（掌声）

Now, I have dreams and achievements in my sport,

现在，我在我的运动事业里，有梦想也有成就

great coaches,

有良好的培训

respect and dignity,

得到尊重

better health,

生活更加健康

and I am pursuing a career as a personal trainer.

然后我也在努力往私人教练的事业前进

(Applause)

（掌声）

I am no longer hidden, bullied

我不在被掩藏，被欺凌

and I am here doing a TED Talk.

我在TED这里在做TED Talk

(Applause)

（掌声）

The world is a different place because of Special Olympics,

有了特殊奥林匹克运动会，这个世界变得不一样

but there is still farther to go.

但还有很长一段路要走

So the next time you see someone with an intellectual disability,

所以下一次当你再看到智力缺陷的人

I hope you will see their ability.

我希望你们能看到他们的潜力

The next time someone uses the r-word near you,

下次有人在你身边用“傻”这个词

I hope you will tell them how much it hurts.

我希望你告诉他们这个词都多伤人

I hope you will think about getting involved with Special Olympics.

我希望你们会希望看一场特殊奥林匹克运动会

(Applause)

（掌声）

I would like to leave you with one final thought.

我最后再跟大家分享一个想法

Nelson Mandela said,

尼尔森·曼德拉说过

"Sports has the power to change the world."

“体育有改变世界的能力。”

Special Olympics is changing the world

特殊奥林匹克运动会正在改变世界

by transforming four and a half million athletes

在改变四百五十万运动员

and giving us a place to be confident,

给了我们一席之地，让我们变得自信

meet friends,

认识朋友

not be judged

不被歧视

and get to feel like and be champions.

也能体验当一回冠军

Thank you very much.

谢谢大家！

(Applause)

（掌声）