30. Januar 2007  
Berlin / Germany  
Artistic Gymnastics

EU kicks off European Year of Equal Opportunity in Berlin

Minister von der Leyen and Ronny Ziesmer

Ronny Ziesmer - an European Campaign Ambassador

As part of the opening conference of the "European Year of Equal Opportunity" at the Berlin Congress Center (bcc) on Alexanderplatz
the paralysed German gymnast Ronny Ziesmer was appointed as an ambassador for this campaign; in this new function he met the German Minister of Family Affairs, Ursula von der Leyen, who remarked that to accept diversity meant first and foremost to accept other people.

Since his accident in July 2004, Ronny has also had a different and more complex perception of life and proves this by taking on many commitments...

Photo opportunity during the press conference at the opening event of the
'EUROPEAN YEAR OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY'

EU-Commissioner Vladimír Špidla - Ronny Ziesmer

2007 – European Year of Equal Opportunity for all 

The European Commission has declared 2007 to be a 'European Year of Equal Opportunity for all', as part of a concerted concept for the promotion of equal opportunity and non-discrimination in the EU.
The European Year is the centre piece of a framework strategy aimed at combatting discrimination, communicating that diversity is a positive value and promoting equal opportunity for all.                                                                                                                     
Summit on Equal Treatment and Opening Conference of the European Year of Equal Opportunity for all
- 30./31 January 2007, Berlin Conference Center (bcc) -

Ronny at the press conference held by Spidla and von der Leyen

After the conference was opened by Rita Süssmuth, the former speaker of the German parliament, the EU-Commissioner for Employment, Social affairs and Equal opportunity, Vladimír Špidla and the German Minister of Family Affairs, Ursula von der Leyen held a press conference.
Špidla said: 'Europe must strive to achieve true equality of treatment in everyday life. The European Year of Equal Opportunity for all and the framework strategy will give new impetus to the efforts to implement the EU's non-discrimination rules in full, which up until now have frequently been delayed and obstructed.  

German Minister of Family Affairs von der Leyen

Fundamental rights, non-discrimination and equal opportunity remain core priorities of the European Commission.'  

Minister von der Leyen said in her opening speech: 'Europe's strength lies in its diversity.  I would like to use this year to move equal opportunity and diversity centre stage!'

More than 500 representatives of academia, administration and politics compared notes on specific measures and best practice for the implementation of Equal Opportuniy in Europe in discussion fora and workgroups.                                     
The central topics of the European Year - rights, representation in society, acknowledgement and respect - were discussed specifically.

'CIVITAS': - exemplary integration of people with Down's Syndrome through sporting activities, as it takes place every year at the Festival BLUME on Gran Canaria / Spanien.

Festival BLUME - real life integration...
In interesting informal conversations at the two-day conference, Ronny, who is also an ambassador for the  "Festival BLUME Grand Canaria" - reported on this fascinating event which brings together several thousand younger and older participants from many countries and several continents for gymnastics and sporting events that unite handicapped and non-handicapped contestants on an equal footing by means of the linking element of sports. 

"'I experienced real equality of treatment in everyday life at this event, which is why I have made a heartfelt commitment to promote it!', says Ronny.

The two new 'Ambassodors of the European Year of Equal Opportunity':
left: Bobby Brederlow, well known to German television audiences and holder of various prizes and decorations including the 'Bambi' for his services to people with Down's Syndrome;
right: Ronny Ziesmer, former member of the German national team, ambassador of the 'GERMAN PARAPLEGICS FOUNDATION' (DSQ) as founder of the campaign 'Alliance of Hope';
- centre: Andr? Sommerlatte (Ministry of Family Affairs)