Austria

SOEE announced the election of eight new members to its Europe Eurasia Leadership Council (EELC) for the 2024-2026 term during the Regional Leadership Conference in Berlin on 16 October.

A comprehensive Unified Volleyball Coaching Guide has publicly launched this week as one of the main outputs of the ground-breaking ‘Unified Volleyball Spikes’ project funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union (EU).

The Special Olympics Italia Winter Games 2024 took place 4 – 8 March 2024 in Sestriere, Pragelato, Entracque and Borgo Sandalmazzo.

Special Olympics Georgia athlete Lani DeMello continues to achieve incredible things in athletics and coaching gymnastics.

UNICEF and Special Olympics have been working together since 2007 to protect and uphold the rights of children with disabilities, as well as change perceptions and challenge negative attitudes. At a recent Special Olympics Leadership Academy in Baku, Azerbaijan, UNICEF representative Edward Carwardine was invited to speak about the global partnership, which has been renewed for a further five years.

Special Olympics is calling on Europe Eurasia to light up red in a global show of inclusion this July. Special Olympic celebrates the 50 years of our movement this summer. To mark this major milestone, Special Olympics is asking everyone to Light Up for Inclusion! On July 20th, 2018 landmarks, stadia and iconic buildings around the world will turn red in a global act of unity. This exciting event will be global demonstration of tolerance, respect and a celebration of difference. Lighting up red for inclusion will help bring urgency and awareness for the inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities all over the world. David Evangelista, President and Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, is encouraging programmes to get involved: "As one of the largest regions, we are hoping that SOEE programmes answer this call and nominate a landmark and engage a contact to confirm a willingness to take part in the initiative." Find out more email fhynes@specialolympics.org

On 13 April 2018, leaders from the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) joined Special Olympics Europe-Eurasia (SOEE) Leadership Council and Sports Committee at the official Slovak Olympic Team Training Center x-bionic in Samorin, Slovakia to sign an Memorandum of Understanding that helps to promote the strengthening of fair play, tolerance, peace and inclusion through and within sport.

The system, also used in the Olympics, will now be a part of Special Olympics competitions for years to come.

When Eunice Kennedy Shriver hosted the first ever summer camp for people with intellectual disabilities in her backyard, it would have been hard to imagine that 50 years down the line, Special Olympics would be taking the lead to discuss an urgent issue in today’s society, the marginalisation of those already on the margins, namely, refugees with intellectual disabilities.

The event saw 38 students participate - 20 Special Olympics athletes and 18 Unified Partners.