{"id":35807,"date":"2022-06-04T00:43:57","date_gmt":"2022-06-04T00:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/special-olympics-lifts-vaccine-mandate-for-its-usa-games\/"},"modified":"2022-06-04T00:43:57","modified_gmt":"2022-06-04T00:43:57","slug":"special-olympics-lifts-vaccine-mandate-for-its-usa-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/special-olympics-lifts-vaccine-mandate-for-its-usa-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Olympics Lifts Vaccine Mandate for Its USA Games"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Special Olympics lifted its coronavirus vaccine requirement for athletes and staff members at its USA Games in Orlando, Fla., This weekend after Florida threatened a $ 27.5 million fine over the mandate.<\/p>\n

In a letter to Special Olympics International on Thursday, state health officials said the vaccine requirement violated Florida law, which prohibits businesses and charitable organizations from requiring proof of vaccination against the coronavirus. The law allows the state’s health department to impose a $ 5,000 fine per individual who is asked to provide proof of vaccination, the letter said. About 5,500 participants are expected at the Games, which begin Sunday at Disney World and the ESPN sports complex and run through June 12.<\/p>\n

Special Olympics will lift the mandate “as required” by the state, “based upon the Florida Department of Health’s interpretation of Florida law,” read a statement<\/a> issued on Thursday by the organization. It added that those who had registered for the Games but could not participate because of the vaccine requirement would now have the option to attend, and that it was \u201cmaking best efforts\u201d to accommodate those participants.<\/p>\n

Speaking at at news conference<\/a> on Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said that Special Olympics’ vaccine requirement had no \u201cconnection\u201d to competition and unfairly targeted a marginalized group.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n