Special Olympics footballers from SJN club in Schaerbeek, Brussels and refugee footballers with the organisation ‘Fedasil’ joined forces to create five teams for this unique competition. Together these players with and without intellectual disabilities from a huge diversity of backgrounds showed the power of Special Olympics Unified Sports.
Christo Velkov, Vice-President, Strategic Development with Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, was out on the pitch, playing alongside Special Olympics athletes and refugees. He said, "This event is a wonderful example of the values of the Special Olympics movement: everyone is welcome, respect and inclusion are paramount, on and next to the football field, regardless of level, gender or belief. Today everyone wins". He was also joined on the field by Special Olympics Belgium Ambassador, Henny Seroeyen.
The competition was an opportunity to show the vision of Special Olympics for a truly inclusive society in action—a vision where everyone's capabilities are valued, where athletes with and without intellectual disabilities together experience the joy of sports. It was also an opportunity to promote Special Olympics activities in Europe in the coming years to the people of Brussels—namely the World Summer Games in Germany in 2023. These international events provide fantastic opportunities for cultural exchange for Special Olympics athletes across Europe, and indeed across the world.
Hamza, a Special Olympics Belgium athlete from the SJN club in Schaerbeek thoroughly enjoyed the competition. He said, “It was fun to play with [the refugee players]. Even though we do not speak the same language, we played well together and understood each other. I like to travel with Special Olympics and always get to know new people!”.
