{"id":1503397,"date":"2022-06-04T11:34:04","date_gmt":"2022-06-04T15:34:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1503397"},"modified":"2022-06-04T11:34:09","modified_gmt":"2022-06-04T15:34:09","slug":"special-olympics-drops-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-in-violation-of-florida-law-after-desantis-threatens-27-5-million-fine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/special-olympics-drops-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-in-violation-of-florida-law-after-desantis-threatens-27-5-million-fine\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Olympics Drops COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate In Violation of Florida Law After DeSantis Threatens $27.5 Million Fine"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fspecial-olympics-drops-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-in-violation-of-florida-law-after-desantis-threatens-27-5-million-fine%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1503397&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Special Olympics has dropped its COVID-19 vaccine requirement ahead of its games in Orlando, Florida, after the state sent a letter to the organization threatening to fine it $27.5 million for violating state law.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, the Special Olympics announced that athletes and other participants would no longer have to show proof of COVID-19 vaccine \u201cas demanded by the state of Florida officials on May 27, based upon the Florida Department of Health\u2019s interpretation of Florida law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDelegates who were registered for the Games but were unable to participate due to the prior vaccine requirement, now have the option to attend,\u201d the organization <a href=\"https:\/\/www.specialolympics.org\/stories\/news\/update-regarding-the-2022-special-olympics-usa-games\">said<\/a> in a press release.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe look forward to welcoming thousands of Special Olympics athletes, families, and fans to an extraordinary 2022 USA Games,\u201d Special Olympics <a href=\"https:\/\/www.specialolympics.org\/stories\/news\/update-regarding-the-2022-special-olympics-usa-games\">added<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Florida\u2019s Department of Health <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2022\/06\/03\/special-olympics-caves-on-vax-mandate-after-desantis-drops-the-hammer\/\">had sent a letter<\/a> to the group on Thursday notifying them that the rule ran afoul of the Sunshine State\u2019s laws.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis letter is notice that the Special Olympics International is assessed a $27.5 million fine for 5,500 violations of Section 381.00316 (1), Florida Statutes, after the Department of Health made repeated attempted to avoid imposing fines against this charitable organization to ensure the 2022 USA Special Olympics could be held in Florida without requiring proof of vaccination from delegates,\u201d the letter said.<\/p>\n<p>The letter also noted that Florida law \u201cprohibits a business entity, <em>which includes a charitable organization,\u00a0<\/em>from requiring any patron or customer to provide documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or post-infection recovery to gain access to, entry upon, or service from the business entity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clickorlando.com\/news\/politics\/2022\/06\/03\/watch-live-at-1015-am-gov-desantis-holds-news-conference-in-orlando\/\">praised the decision<\/a> as well as the athletes who participate in the games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-bdVaJa dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-2 hLMqRF\">\u201cI can tell you the heart and the determination you see from our Special Olympians is remarkable,\u201d DeSantis said at a press conference. \u201cAnd they\u2019re able to do things that, quite frankly, I don\u2019t think that I would be able to do under those circumstances and so, they really should be admired and commended. And so, this is something that I think is really meaningful for people throughout the state of Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-bdVaJa dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-2 hLMqRF\">For varying reasons, including medical concerns, not all Special Olympians can receive the COVID-19 vaccine, or even want it in the first place. Now, those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to compete in the games, which start on Sunday, June 5.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-bdVaJa dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-2 hLMqRF\">\u201cThis is a really significant event for these athletes and you know, in Florida, we want all of them to be able to compete,\u201d DeSantis said. \u201cWe do not think it\u2019s fair, or just, to be marginalizing some of these athletes based on a decision that has no bearing on their ability to compete with honor and integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-bdVaJa dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-2 hLMqRF\">\u201cAnd so this was important that we engaged in this. I wish it did not have to come to this,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>DeSantis also blasted the Special Olympics leaders for an \u201cexclusionary policy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you talk about a policy and you talk about an organization, who on their website promotes inclusion, to then have an exclusionary policy,\u201d Desantis said. \u201cIt\u2019s contradictory, it\u2019s hypocritical, and it doesn\u2019t have the best interest of our athletes at the forefront.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis also expressed her gratitude that more athletes will now be able to play.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is what standing up for your rights is all about \u2013 Isabella will now be able to compete in the Special Olympics because \u00a0@GovRonDeSantis fought their vaccine mandate (which is illegal in FL) and won,\u201d the mother of three and cancer survivor said on Friday. \u201cIsabella\u2019s smile says everything,\u201d she said in regard to one athlete who joined the governor at the press conference.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is what standing up for your rights is all about \u2013 Isabella will now be able to compete in the Special Olympics because <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GovRonDeSantis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@GovRonDeSantis<\/a> fought their vaccine mandate (which is illegal in FL) and won.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Isabella\u2019s smile says everything. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/PkGUL3BQi9\">pic.twitter.com\/PkGUL3BQi9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Casey DeSantis (@FLCaseyDeSantis) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FLCaseyDeSantis\/status\/1532755698169290752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Special Olympics <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=special+olympics&#038;rlz=1C5GCEM_enUS998US998&#038;ei=klObYu77FvyqwbkPwImkqAE&#038;ved=0ahUKEwjujNG_6ZP4AhV8VTABHcAECRUQ4dUDCA8&#038;uact=5&#038;oq=special+olympics&#038;gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyEQguEIAEELEDEIMBEMcBENEDMgsIABCABBCxAxCDATIOCC4QsQMQgwEQxwEQrwEyDgguEIAEEMcBEK8BENQCMgsILhCABBDHARCvATILCAAQgAQQsQMQgwEyCwgAEIAEELEDEIMBMgsILhCABBDHARCvATIECAAQAzIOCC4QsQMQgwEQxwEQrwE6BwgAEEcQsAM6BQgAEIAESgQIQRgASgQIRhgAUOUBWIAFYPgIaAFwAXgAgAG_AogBkAWSAQcwLjIuMC4xmAEAoAEByAEIwAEB&#038;sclient=gws-wiz\">began<\/a> in 1968 with the mission \u201cto provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.\u201d The group has helped more than five million athletes from around the world in 172 different countries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Special Olympics has dropped its COVID-19 vaccine requirement ahead of its games in Orlando, Florida, after the state sent a letter to the organization threatening to fine it $27.5 million for violating state law. On Friday, the Special Olympics announced that athletes and other participants would no longer have to show proof of COVID-19 &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":326,"featured_media":1503415,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1503397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1503397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/326"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1503397"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1503397\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1503415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1503397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1503397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1503397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}