Trump Reverses Course on Special Olympics Cut; Trump Budget Would Have Cut Special Olympics Funding
VAUSE: We have an explanation from the Vatican as to why Pope Francis would not let people kiss his ring. The Pope's behavior was somewhat unusual, Monday's video went viral. But the reason behind it not so strange. A Vatican spokesman says the Pope simply didn't want -- did not want to spread germs by having so many people kiss his ring in a short period of time. So there. A 71-year-old woman in Scotland does not have to worry about going to dentist or, you know, getting burned on a hot stove. Throughout her life, Joy Cameron (ph) has not felt pain or anxiety. She thought that was normal until just a few years ago. When she was 65 Cameron went to the doctor for a hip replacement. They were shocked she was in no pain. Turns out she has a rare genetic mutation. Researchers say it could help them find new treatments for pain and anxiety. The U.S. President has backed out of a proposed total cuts in funding for the Special Olympics and its education programs. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos spent days defending the indefensible but three days of widespread criticism was enough for President Trump.</s>TRUMP: I have been to the Special Olympics. I think it is incredible and I just authorized a funding. I heard about it this morning. I have overridden my people with funding the Special Olympics.</s>VAUSE: For anyone who has been to the Special Olympics, be it as spectator or athlete, the experience is unforgettable. The inclusion, the drive to win, a love of sport -- all combined to bring out the very best. It's a place where winning does not always mean coming first. In 2007 the Special Olympics summer games were held in Shanghai. I saw first hand the difference these games can make in so many lives.</s>VAUSE: This is a nine day celebration of the things that make us good -- courage, determination, personal achievement, and friendship. Here in Shanghai seven and a half thousand Special Olympians were given a welcome like never before with the biggest and most spectacular star-studded opening ceremony in the history of the games. Perhaps the oath that these athletes take before the start of competition best describes the spirit of this game. Let me win, they say, but if I cannot win then let me be brave in the intent.</s>VAUSE: Dustin Plunkett is a Special Olympian and spokesperson for the Special Olympics. He joins us now from Los Angeles. Dustin -- thanks you for coming in. Good to see you.</s>DUSTIN PLUNKETT, SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPOKESPERSON: Good to see you, too. Glad to be here.</s>VAUSE: Ok. Well just,</s>PLUNKETT: Well, I was very hurt at first and angered in a way because I cannot believe that somebody like Betsy DeVos would come out and pitch that idea of proposing to slash our funding after she herself has been out to multiple events of ours, saying that we have the full support of the government and she is behind us 110 percent.</s>VAUSE: Wow, it must have felt like a bit of a knife in the back in some ways. You know, the President now says that funding cut will not go ahead but how stressful has it been over the last couple of days for you and others, who, you know, the Special Olympics has been such a big part of your life.</s>PLUNKETT: It was kind of stressful but then you have to remember we are followed and supported by many people around the world especially in this country where we have a lot of voices out on social media, doing media interviews and almost every school in states across the U.S. here that really gave all the heat that now had President Trump rescinding what was said and saying that he will be funding.</s>VAUSE: You know, a lot of people don't really understand the value of these games, what they actually mean. You know, you have been a part of the Special Olympics for more than 20 years. So for you personally how much of a sort of a life changing events have the Special Olympics been?</s>PLUNKETT: The Special Olympics has been a big -- big life changing experience for me. And not only has it been life changing where it helped me find my voice to stand up for myself, put an end to the bullying that I've faced growing up as a kid inside the schools which I'm very thankful that we have a unified champion school program now. And every community teaching tolerance, teaching inclusion, and teaching acceptance and all that. But I'm also very grateful to this organization for programs like Healthy Outreach (ph) where it actually saved my life 14 years ago.</s>VAUSE: How so.</s>PLUNKETT: I went through our Healthy Outreach, it's getting free screening done on my team by a volunteer dentist there. And he said, my teeth were in really bad shape you need to go get quality care right away. And it was during the follow-up care, my coach took me to his personal dentist and he did the x-rays. After reviewing them for a couple of minutes, he came back in the room and says Dustin brace yourself, I've got some bad news for you. But don't worry about it, I know how to fix it. And he goes on to tell me that I had gum cancer forming in the upper left side of my mouth. And everybody just went one more month longer, I wouldn't be alive today sharing my million-dollar smile with the world.</s>VAUSE: Which is great so we're glad you're here. And</s>PLUNKETT: Oh it definitely lasts long after the games are over. I was working as ESPN analyst during the 2015 World Games here in Los Angeles, as well as the 2017 World Winter Games in Austria. And just to see the camaraderie between the athletes, especially the country after they marched in the opening ceremonies, they lined up the pathway to high-five other athletes from the countries and that is what we are all about. It's inclusion and acceptance. No matter what type of disability you have, we accept all of our athletes and that's the way everything works inside the Special Olympics Organization.</s>VAUSE: You know, I guess one positive out of all of this, there's been a lot of news coverage is there are a lot of people talking not just about the Special Olympics but also about those school programs, you know, which were under threat with this budget cut. So I guess, you know, people now know a lot more about what's being done and the programs that are out there and the challenges that a lot of people have been facing and the remedies which are being taken to address those challenges.</s>PLUNKETT: Yes. and just a quick statement to President Trump. On behalf of all the athletes of Special Olympics. We want -- we are internally grateful for him rescinding that and saying that he will fund us because the organization (ph) survives not only us current athletes inside, nutritional programs but also the community base and now more schools can be a part of our he program and be accepted and when in doubt always choose to include.</s>VAUSE: Good words to finish on -- Dustin. So thank you so much. We appreciate you being with us.</s>PLUNKETT: Thank you.</s>VAUSE: And thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause. Please stay with us. The news continues right here on CNN after a very short break.