On Saturday night, more than 60,000 people filled the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to celebrate the beginning of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games. The night included fireworks, performances from Stevie Wonder and Avril Lavigne, and appearances from First Lady Michelle Obama, actress Lauren Potter and Olympian Michael Phelps. The atmosphere was electric.

Of the many exceptional speeches we heard, below is one of our favorites.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles spoke about how Special Olympics gave him an opportunity when no one else would.

“When I was a boy, I had trouble reading. I found out I had learning disabilities,” Charles said. “People made fun of me. They said I would never go anywhere. But I learned I can fly.”

Watch Charles’ touching speech below: