On this episode of LIVE From Special Olympics 2026 USA Games: A Special Chronicles Podcast Series, host and Health Messenger Daniel Smrokowski is podcasting location at the University of Minnesota for the official Healthy Athletes Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. 

Tune in as Daniel co‑emcees this event alongside fellow Health Messenger Kayte Barton, as they welcome leaders from the University of Minnesota, United Healthcare, and Special Olympics International — including Dr. Brian Sick, Vice Provost for Academic Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota abd Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics; Spencer Merchant, Senior Product Director at United Healthcare; and Dr. Dimitri Christakis, Special Olympics Chief Health Officer; and Maria Shriver, whose mom founded Special Olympics — to celebrate the world’s largest health program for people with intellectual disabilities.

Kayte shares her powerful journey as a mental health advocate and her role in shaping Strong Minds, while Daniel reflects on how Healthy Athletes has supported him personally — from Opening Eyes providing sports goggles and glasses to Healthy Hearing fitting him with hearing aids just last week.

Together, Daniel and Kayte lead Unified tours through Healthy Athletes, showing how inclusive health isn’t just a service — it’s a promise. A promise of dignity, access, and quality care for every athlete.

This is what inclusion looks like. This is Healthy Athletes.

🩺Learn more about Special Olympics Healthy Athletes

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👨‍💻Learn more about Special Olympics 2026 USA Games at: 2026USAGames.org 

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Podcast Theme Music: “It Starts With A Voice” written by Amy Wright and performed by Ben Wright, co-founders of Bitty and Beau’s Coffee. Used with permission.

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