Football is one of the most popular of the 30 official sports offered within Special Olympics.
Special Olympics Europe Eurasia (SOEE), has achieved significant progress towards expansion of football opportunities for people with intellectual disability:
- Increase from 15,000 in 2000 to almost 100,000 players today
- Annual Special Olympics European Football Week attracts over 50,000 athletes, with media, football clubs and national federation involvement
- Ten European-level football competitions since 2000
- Network of National Football Coordinators expanded to 48 countries, with annual
European meetings
- Network of football ambassadors (celebrities and influential individuals in the world of football)
in 23 countries
- Four video training kits produced: Skills training, Goalkeeping, Divisioning and Assistant Coaching.
To continue to increase opportunities for more players, we will need continued support from national football associations, clubs, volunteer coaches, sponsors and the media to help us create new and exciting opportunities for Special Olympics players in the years to come.
Photo: Female goalkeeper and football players from Ireland (green) and Poland (red) during football competition at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Shanghai. (Photo: Adam Nurkiewicz)
Partners