The State of Florida threatened the Special Olympics with a fine of $27 million due to the group’s requirement that each one athletes competing within the video games in Orlando this weekend be vaccinated for COVID-19.
In a letter despatched to Special Olympics International, the Florida Department of Health knowledgeable the group that its vaccine requirement conflicted with present Florida legislation, which prohibits any enterprise from asking for proof of vaccination.
The letter, which was first obtained by ABC News, was despatched to the Special Olympics on Thursday night time.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at Miami’s Freedom Tower, May 9, 2022.
Marta Lavandier/AP, FILE
Shortly after receiving that letter, the Special Olympics posted an replace on its web site, saying it was “lifting the vaccine requirement for delegation members” attending the video games after repeated calls for from Florida officers.
Unvaccinated athletes who had been beforehand unable to compete will now be allowed to play, the group continued.
“We don’t want to fight. We want to play,” the Special Olympics’ assertion concluded.
The $27 million fine would have been the biggest in Florida’s historical past for an alleged violation of the state’s ban on so-called “vaccine passports.” In 2021, the Florida legislature, on the urging of Gov. Ron DeSantis, handed a legislation that prevented any enterprise from asking “patrons or customers to provide any documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or postinfection recovery.”
Florida officers stated they turned conscious of the vaccine requirement after listening to complaints from members of the family of Special Olympics athletes nationwide, who complained to DeSantis’ workplace that that they had been disqualified from the video games.
“We want everyone to be able to compete,” DeSantis stated at a press convention 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.”
At the press convention, DeSantis was joined by the household of golfer Isabella Valle, who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and a shunt in her mind. Her mom, Elaine Valle, stated her daughter was disqualified from the video games as a result of she is unvaccinated, regardless of Isabella’s neurologist recommending towards taking the vaccine due to her distinctive situation.
Valle has now been cleared to play after the vaccine requirement was lifted.
The Special Olympics, in the meantime, has repeatedly stated that vaccines save lives, notably in individuals with mental disabilities, who’re at excessive threat for COVID problems and loss of life.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the COVID vaccine for individuals with disabilities who “may be at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.”
DeSantis and Florida’s first woman, Casey DeSantis, are each honorary co-chairs of the 2022 Special Olympics.