Special Olympics Drops COVID-19 Jab Mandate After Gov. DeSantis Threatens Organization With $27.5 Million Fine

Special Olympics International planned on banning athletes who weren’t inoculated against COVID-19 from competing in its Orlando event.

First off, the Special Olympics proved they’re an evil institute for attempting to force its athletes to inject themselves with an experimental shot to compete.

And props to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for refusing to let them get them get away with it.

“The Special Olympics bowed to pressure from Florida officials and will scrap vaccination requirements for athletes at its event this weekend after the state threatened the games’ governing body with $27.5 million in fines,” according to a report.

Special Olympics Int’l was planning on banning Special Olympians from competing based on covid vaccine status—in violation of Florida’s ban on vaccine passports. Thanks to the efforts of our administration, this mandate has been removed so athletes like Isabella can now compete! https://t.co/PqN4rZCEeG

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 3, 2022

Thanks to @GovRonDeSantis and @FLSurgeonGen, Special Olympics International has DROPPED their vax mandate so that ALL athletes can compete.

FYI- Special Olympics Florida organization has been awesome & they did not enact any mandates in violation of Florida law.

— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) June 3, 2022

Special Olympics pulls vax requirement after DeSantis threatens $27.5M fine https://t.co/Hes3wB2os3 pic.twitter.com/ULkl2sTKjV

— New York Post (@nypost) June 3, 2022

The Orlando event is expected to attract over 5,500 Special Olympic athletes from around the country.

And Special Olympics International wanted them all to take an experimental shot.

However, the Special Olympics USA Games organizers dropped its mandate after bowing to pressure placed on them by Florida officials.

“There needs to be a choice in this regard,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a promotional event in Orlando on Friday.

“Let them compete. We want everyone to be able to compete.”

From The New York Post:

Last year, DeSantis banned vaccine passports and ordered the state to issue $5,000 fines to businesses, schools and government agencies that require people to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination.

Jay O’Brien of ABC News was the first to report that the Special Olympics backed down from its mandate.

DeSantis’ Health Department sent a letter to the Special Olympics International on Thursday notifying the governing body that its vaccine requirement violated state law.

Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s surgeon general, told reporters that he had been in talks with SOI over the past six months in an attempt to avoid imposing fines.

SCOOP: The State or Florida threatened the Special Olympics with $27.5 MILLION in fines because the organization had a vaccine requirement at its games in Orlando this weekend.

Late yesterday, the Special Olympics pulled the requirement. 1/3

— Jay O'Brien (@jayobtv) June 3, 2022

Then, the Special Olympics put out this notice.

“We don’t want to fight. We want to play,” it says at the end.

3/3 pic.twitter.com/LTRdb3lrXI

— Jay O'Brien (@jayobtv) June 3, 2022

Florida’s Department of Health said the Special Olympics “was unable to bring the event into compliance for the benefit of their delegates, and reinstate all who were denied access based on proof of vaccination.”

The Special Olympics finally caved Thursday, issuing a statement that it had lifted its vaccine requirement and that all athletes would be eligible to participate.

“Delegates who were registered for the games but unable to participate due to the prior vaccine requirement, now have the option to attend,” the organization said.

“We don’t want to fight,” it said. “We want to play.”