Stories
These global stories are about the power of Special Olympics to inspire hope, confidence and courage. Special Olympics changes the lives of our athletes with intellectual disabilities but also our coaches, families, volunteers and others who have the opportunity to take part.
“I couldn’t believe that I had been selected!”
This week, Margaret Turley and the nine other new Sargent Shriver Global Messengers (SSGMs) from the 2024 to 2027 cohort are embarking on an intensive week of training in Washington DC. Just before Margaret flew out, we took the opportunity to get to know her a little better with a one-to-one interview.
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European Football Week 2024: Celebrating the Beautiful Game for ALL!
European Football Week #EFW2024 will see exciting football activities taking place across the continent from 25 May to 2 June 2024.
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Special Olympics Athletes and Refugees Team Up for Unified Football in Spain
Inclusivity took center stage in Seville, Spain on 25 April 2024, as Special Olympics Andalucía football players and refugees from the local Refugee Reception Center came together for an exhibition match.
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Special Olympics welcomes Paraguay into the Global Leadership Coalition for Inclusion
Paraguay made history by becoming the inaugural South American nation to join the Special Olympics Global Leadership Coalition for Inclusion.
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“Inclusion Starts with Sport”
Special Olympics’ Kiera Byland was a highlight speaker at the International Sports Press Association’s Global Congress gathering taking place in Barcelona, Spain this week.
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AIPS: Special Olympics Athlete and Leader Kiera Byland Inspires AIPS Congress to Champion Inclusion Through Sport
Earlier this week, Kiera Byland, BEM made history as the first ever athlete with intellectual disabilities to address more than 400 sport journalists from five different continents who attended the AIPS Global Centennial Congress in Santa Susanna, Barcelona, Spain.
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First-ever Para Triathlon Mixed Relay World Championships to take place at Torremolinos Finals
The following is an excerpt from World Triathlon’s article on the first-ever Para Triathlon Mixed Relay World Championships that is set to take place at the Championship Finals Torremolinos-Andalucía in Torremolinos, Spain next October.
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UEFA 2024: UEFA EURO 2024 Volunteer Tandem Programme kicks off in Cologne
The following is an excerpt on UEFA’s Euro 2024 Volunteer Tandem Programme that is inspired and based off of the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 Host Town Program.
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Special Olympics Colorado Athlete Conquers Mountains, Literally and Figuratively
For Hunter Specht, the mountain is his home away from home. For years, he and his family have bonded over their passion for snow sports, especially skiing. But it was when Hunter’s passion for skiing met Special Olympics Colorado that he was truly able to shine.
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Iceland Enhances Inclusive Learning through Unified Sports
Ceremony in Reykjavík ratifies the European country's membership in the Special Olympics Global Leadership Coalition for Inclusion
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Earth Day 2024: Special Olympics Drive Sustainability in Italy and Belgium
The following is an excerpt from Inside the Games’ article on Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023’s sustainability project
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The UPS Foundation progresses inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities with US $92K grant to Special Olympics in Asia
In a world where the need for inclusion is increasingly urgent, The UPS Foundation has pledged US$92K to support Special Olympics Young Athletes programming, an early childhood play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities (ID), ages 2 to 7 years old across Asia. In addition, the grant will also go towards other Special Olympics sports programming in the region.
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