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Posted on 06/03/2022 6:17:32 PM PDT by American Number 181269513
State of Florida threatened the Special Olympics with a fine of $27 million because of the organization's requirement that all athletes competing in the games in Orlando this weekend be vaccinated for COVID-19.
In a letter sent to Special Olympics International, the Florida Department of Health informed the organization that its vaccine requirement conflicted with existing Florida law, which prohibits any business from asking for proof of vaccination.
The letter, which was first obtained by ABC News, was sent to the Special Olympics on Thursday night.
Shortly after receiving that letter, the Special Olympics posted an update on its website, saying it was "lifting the vaccine requirement for delegation members" attending the games after repeated demands from Florida officials.
Unvaccinated athletes who were previously unable to compete will now be allowed to play, the organization continued.
"We don't want to fight. We want to play," the Special Olympics' statement concluded.
The $27 million fine would have been the largest in Florida's history for an alleged violation of the state's ban on so-called "vaccine passports." In 2021, the Florida legislature, at the urging of Gov. Ron DeSantis, passed a law that prevented any business from asking "patrons or customers to provide any documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or post infection recovery."
Florida officials said they became aware of the vaccine requirement after hearing complaints from family members of Special Olympics athletes nationwide, who complained to DeSantis' office that they had been disqualified from the games.
"We want everyone to be able to compete," DeSantis said at a press conference Friday to announce the vaccine requirement had been lifted. "Finally, we can report that all the athletes will be able to compete. This will be a relief for a lot of the athletes."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
DeSantis recommends that people ignore the ill-informed Marxist controlled CDC.
Disgusting.
Good on Florida.
DeSantis, my man.
Good on Soecial Olympics to not buckle down on this cowardly tyranny.
Good, let these kids respective parents and their doctors decide if the experimental vaccines are appropriate or not.
Good. Stick it to woke orgs no matter what they do.
I think the Special Olympics realizes that many of its athletes -- for example, Downs syndrome kids -- have a variety of heart problems. If the kid's doctor recommends against the vacc and the SO demands it, no choice but to bow out.
Prob the SO folks were between a rock and a hard place - and a bit relieved that Florida came to their rescue.
Evidently, the people in charge of the Special Olympics
A lot of the special Olympians have Down syndrome or other disabilities that are greatly correlated with heart problems. Kids don’t get very sick from covid and they don’t need heart issue risks.
The special Olympics folded..Ron won…it is against the law in Florida
I might just watch it now. Glad for all the kids that get to play.
DeSantis is willing to win. Good on him.
I love our Gov!!!
Woke splodey heads commence!
The games start tomorrow. The players who could not or would not get the vaccine likely conceded their slot to play back in February and were replaced by a vaccinated athlete. Really hard to imagine this announcement makes much of a difference so close to the Opening Ceremony.
Flashback: King Obama mocks the Special Olympics on Jay Leno’s show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HOBTUCv4o0
DeSantis is the ONLY governor in the Union who is enforcing the law, and this, of course, is an important law to enforce.
Excellent.
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