Donate Now for Special Olympics European Basketball
(10 November 2009)

Be a fan of Special Olympics Basketball.Please donate now, click on the following link:Click here to make a donationPhoto: Macabi captain (right, in blue) with two athletes Special Olympics Israel in TelAviv, Israel on October 15, 2009 during the First Euroleague match of the season.  (Courtesy of EuroLeague)...

EUROLEAGUE Games for Special Olympics
(9 November 2009)

Click here to make a donation.Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia and Euroleague Basketball are delighted to announce a new partnership agreement that will promote greater opportunities in basketball for people with intellectual disabilities during the 2009-10 Euroleague season.Several initiatives will be developed between the two organisations du...

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Grants 447,000 € to Special Olympics
(9 November 2009)

A grant of 447,120.00 € was awarded to Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia under Preparatory Action in the field of sport 2009.Olympics Europe/Eurasia have received a significant boost to its efforts in promoting opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities through sport, on receiving this week a funding grant of 447,120.000 €...

Ten Candles for Special Olympics in RUSSIA
(5 November 2009)

Special Olympics Russia celebrated its 10th anniversary on occasion of its annual conference in Moscow, Russia (October 28-29, 2009).With over 100,000 athletes in more than 60 regions of Special Olympics Russia is the largest program  in Europe/Eurasia .  Close to 500 Special Olympics competitions are organized yearly, from St. Petersburg...

FIBA Europe Endorses Sixth Basketball Week
(29 October 2009)

For the sixth consecutive year, FIBA Europe endorsed the annual Special Olympics European Basketball Week in Brussels, Belgium on 27, October 2009.  The event, which opens more opportunities for people with intellectual disability to enjoy the game, will beheld from 28 November to 6 December 2009 across Europe and Central Asia. The 2009 Basket...

Cooperation with UNICEF continues in Kazakhstan
(27 October 2009)

From October 8-9, 2009 UNICEF and Special Olympics Kazakhstan jointly organized an athletics tournament for 200 Special Olympics athletes from eight regions in Ust-Kamenogorsk, located in eastern Kazakhstan. At the same time, a FunFitness screening was organized and all Special Olympics athletes were screened. The event was held as part of a nation...

NBA Europe Live 2009 in GREAT BRITAIN
(26 October 2009)

As part of Europe Live 2009 presented by EA SPORTS™ on Saturday 3 October 2009, NBA legend Darryl Dawkins and a member of the Great Britain National Basketball Team’s coaching staff joined NBA Cares to host a basketball Clinic for more than 60 athletes from Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB).  Athletes had come from Gr...

SPAIN Hosts Regional Swimming Competition
(21 October 2009)

Three hundred and fifty swimmers from 34 countries in Europe and Eurasia took part in the Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Regional Swimming Competitions in Palma de Mallorca, Spain on October 14-18,2009.Special Olympics Spain and Special Olympics Baleares teamed up with FEAPS Balears and AEDIM to host an outstanding event. Prior to the ev...

Euroleague Basketball and Special Olympics Sign Agreement
(20 October 2009)

Euroleague Basketball and Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia are delighted to announce a new partnership agreement that will promote greater opportunities in basketball for people with intellectual disabilities during the 2009-10 Euroleague season. The agreement was announced on October 14, during the pre-game press conference of the Euroleague Basket...

UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour in Romania
(12 October 2009)

Special Olympics athletes in Romania were thrilled to be part of the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour recently.  The tour, sponsored by UniCredit, made its way through several countries in Europe. During each stop, football fans could get close to European club football's most glittering prize.In Romania, Special Olympics athle...

Republic of Ireland Becomes Global Team Ambassador for Special Olympics
(12 October 2009)

On October 12, 2009, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) announced that the Republic of Ireland Senior International team will be the first national team to become Global Team Ambassadors for the Special Olympics Global Football initiative.Within this role the team will use the power of football to promote respect, acceptance and inclusion of...

Imagine Inclusion - 2009 Special Olympics Football in the Park
(9 October 2009)

Special Olympics Belgium footballers participated in the fifth edition of the event in Parc Léopold in Brussels, Belgium on October 6.  “UEFA is proud to support Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia,” said UEFA President Michel Platini.  “The Special Olympics Football in the Park event, involving Special Olympics athle...

Special Olympics AZERBAIJAN meets International Inspiration representatives
(5 October 2009)

Special Olympics Azerbaijan welcomed guests from the International Inspiration project on 30 September 2009 in Baku.International Inspiration is part of the international education program of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and is using the power of sport to transform the lives of millions of children and young people of all abilities,...

Gymnastics Tournament in UZBEKISTAN
(2 October 2009)

Over 80 athletes from Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Russia and Uzbekistan participated in the IInd Special Olympics Uzbekistan Invitational Gymnastic Tournament.  Artistic and Rhythmic competitions took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 26-28 September 2009. An international conference, under the title "A comprehensive soluti...

Statement on EU Funding
(1 October 2009)

Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE) has achieved a major milestone in securing approval of six million Euros in funding from the budget committee of the European Parliament.The organisation, which provides year-round sports training and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities across Europe, is confident that the six million Euro f...

Successful Regional Equestrian Seminar in POLAND
(22 September 2009)

Sixteen Equestrian Head Coaches from 13 countries attended the 2009 Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Equestrian Seminar (17-20 September 2009) in Warsaw, Poland.  During theoretical sessions, seminar participants received information on current Special Olympics equestrian rules, in particular divisioning rules (as establishing competition divis...

Special Olympics showcased at EUROBASKET 2009
(21 September 2009)

Special Olympics basketball players were joined by former Polish National Team players Maciej Zieliniski and Andrzej Pluta for a demonstration match on the main court during the semi-finals day of EuroBasket 2009 in Poland on 19 Saturday 2009.  Thousands of spectators were in attendance to welcome the Special Olympics team who received a stand...

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR joins as Global Team Ambassador
(15 September 2009)

Football Club in the English Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur officially became Team Ambassador for Special Olympics Global Football when the announcement was made to the public prior to a game against Manchester United on 12 September.Special Olympics Global Football (SOGF) is an initiative created to identify and support new opportunities for gr...

Emergency Situation in Istanbul, TURKEY
(11 September 2009)

MEMO by Mary Davis, Managing Director of Special Olympics Euorpe/Eurasia on the emergency situation in Istanbul, Turkey.There is a real catastrophe in Istanbul and dozens of people have died in the floods that hit the city on Wednesday morning, September 9.  First I want to say how sad I am to read and hear and see the pictures of this and my ...

President of EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Attends Special Olympics Seminar
(9 September 2009)

Seminar Hosted by Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Demonstrates how Lisbon Treaty will enhance Visibility of Sports in European Union Policy Making.On the invitation of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE), Jerzy Buzek, MEP and President of the European Parliament, attended a seminar entitled ‘The Importance of the Lisbon Treaty for Sports i...

ITALY: Special Olympics attends Ambrosetti Workshop
(9 September 2009)

Federica Pellegrini and Special Olympics Italy attended the 35th Ambrosetti Workshop (4-6 September 2009) in Cernobbio, Italy.In early September, at Villa d'Este in Cernobbio (Como), The European House-Ambrosetti organizes a forum which has come to be  one of the most important annual meetings worldwide.  Heads of state, top representativ...

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Hosts Special Olympics Exhibition
(4 September 2009)

Ján Figel', European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth opened "Changing Lives", a multimedia exhibition by Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia on September 1.  The exhibition (August 31-September 2) showcased the power of sports in positively transforming the lives of individuals with inte...

Kick off Press Conference in TURKEY
(3 September 2009)

A press conference to kick off the Special Olympics 7-a-side Unified Football Tournament was held on 3 September 2009 in Silivri, a district of Istanbul in Turkey. The tournament, being held from 1-4 October 2009, will bring players with and without intellectual disabilities aged 16 to 25 together as members of 16 teams.  These teams represent...

Statement from Mary Davis, Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia on the death of Eunice Kennedy Shriver
(11 August 2009)

It is with great sadness that we receive the news of the passing of Mrs Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Founder of the Special Olympics movement. Eunice Kennedy Shriver was an outstanding leader in the world-wide struggle to improve and enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disability. She was a frequent visitor to games and competitions i...

Statement on the Health of Special Olympics Founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver
(8 August 2009)

Special Olympics has issued a statement on the health of Eunice Kennedy Shriver who is hospitalized. Mrs. Shriver is the Founder and Honorary Chairman of the worldwide movement. Mrs. Shriver is in intensive care in critical but stable condition in a hospital in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. Her entire family is with her, her husband, all her childr...

Healthy Athletes village welcomes thousands in GREAT BRITAIN
(7 August 2009)

More than 2,300 Special Olympics athletes experienced a fantastic week of sport and fun at the 2009 Special Olympics Great Britain National Games from 25-29 July 2009 in Leicester, host of the event for the second time.  During the five days almost 1,300 athletes visited the Healthy Athletes Village and 3,898 screenings were conducted.  T...

GERMANY: Youth Unified Sports® Highlights
(6 August 2009)

The first regional Youth Unified Sports® Basketball competition took place in Noerdlingen, Germany, during the Special Olympics Bavaria Regional Games (July 27-30, 2009) when more than 600 athletes from Bavaria and neighboring regions competed in seven sports. Five Special Olympics Unified Basketball teams with young male and female player...

GREAT BRITAIN Celebrates Success
(1 August 2009)

Music and dacing brought the 2009 Special Olympics Great Britain National Games (July 25-29) to a close as more than 3,500 celebrated in Abbey Park.  More than 2,500 athletes from 19 regions around Great Britain took part.In total, 1,200 coaches, 1,500 volunteers and 6,000 families helped with the event.  "The week has surpaseed ever...

INTER MILAN Supports Special Olympics Global Football
(30 July 2009)

As an additional step of a collaboration development between Inter Milan and Special Olympics, the black and blue team is promoting Special Olympics on occasion of its current tour in the United States. The initial event was games plaied agains Club America and Chelsea in the "World Football Challenge" in Palo Alto and Pasadena on July 19...

POLAND: Healthy Athletes Team on track for the Special Olympics European Games in 2010
(9 July 2009)

As part of the IX Special Olympics Poland National Games held in Kielce 2-5 July, a comprehensive Healthy Athletes screening was organized in all six disciplines.  More than 90 healthcare professionals from all over Poland provided their services.  Over 1,300 athletes, family members and coaches benefited from the screenings that were hel...

POLAND: Successful National Games Gives Indication of What to Expect at the Special Olympics European Games in 2010
(9 July 2009)

Over 1,000 Special Olympics athletes from Poland and other four European countries competed in the IX Special Olympics Poland National Games that were held in the central Polish city of Kielce from 2-5 July 2009. Guest teams were from Sweden, Hungary, Turkey and Russia while Polish teams came from 17 regions. Teams were hosted in sev...

SPAIN: Special Olympics Gets a Sneak Preview of U2's 360° Tour
(6 July 2009)

On 29 July 2009 Special Olympics Spain were guests at a dress rehearsal concert of one of the world’s most popular rock bands, U2.  The concert took place in Barcelona on the eve of the global U2 360° Tour. Five hundred guests, including Special Olympics athletes, family members, volunteers, sponsors and friends attended the concert ...

KAZAKHSTAN hosts first Camp Shriver
(3 July 2009)

For the first time ever, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Global Sports Camp was held in Kazakhstan from 15-29 June 2009 in Almaty.  Haileybury Almaty, the first British private school in Central Asia, hosted the event which is held in honor of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver.  It was in the 1960s that Shriver began organizing s...

GREECE: ‘Join us!’ is the National Games Message
(24 June 2009)

Special Olympics Hellas organized National Games from 27-31 May in Thessaloniki with 600 athletes and coaches from all over Greece taking part.  Athletes competed in Football, Badminton and Rhythmic Gymnastics.The light rain did not dampen the spirits of the 5,000 spectators who turned out for Opening Ceremonies at Artistotelous Square.  ...

Third Scientific Symposium for Special Olympics GERMANY
(23 June 2009)

“Disability, sports training, liberation – resources and competences of people with intellectual disabilities” was the theme of the third Special Olympics Germany scientific symposium, held on 19-20 June 2009. More than 60 participants from five countries attended. Topics of the 3rd international symposium of the serial &ldqu...

Unified Weekend in GERMANY
(19 June 2009)

The 2-nd European Unified Volleyball Tournament (10-14 June 2009) was a fine example of great Special Olympics management and of integration of individuals with intellectual disabilities.The Tournament was held in Wilhemsdorf, Germany, a role-model in local community integration.  Most citizens are in some way connected to the C...

KAZAKHSTAN: UNICEF and Special Olympics Sign Agreement
(19 June 2009)

UNICEF Kazakhstan and Special Olympics Kazakhstan signed a Momorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the UNICEF Country Office in Astana on 1 June 2009.  The agreement was signed by Hanaa Singer, UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan, and Olga Bakhareva, National Director, Special Olympics Kazakhstan. Both organizations agreed to “develop ...

Special Olympics HUNGARY Introduces Coerver®Coaching
(18 June 2009)

Special Olympics Hungary organized a meeting for Football and Unified Sports® Football coaches in Budapest on 12-14 June. The program contained basic elements about the mission of the movement and Special Olympics Football rules and regulations.  Special Olympics divisioning was a major subject. Eighteen of the 23 coaches participating are...

Special Olympics SERBIA Holds Fourth National Games
(18 June 2009)

The Fourth Special Olympics Serbia National Games were held from 27-30 May 2009  in Kragujevac. Three hundred athletes and coaches participated in five sports:  football (male and female), basketball (male and female), athletics, table tennis and bocce.  Guest teams from Hungary and Spain also took part. Forty-five local secondary sc...

ROMANIA: Games Create Memorable Experiences for All
(18 June 2009)

Special Olympics Romania organized National Games in the south eastern city of Buzau from 3-6 June, 2009.  Forty-four delegations, made up of 375 athletes and coaches, competed in bocce, football and basketball individual skills competitions, and Unified Football.  In addition to competition, Special Olympics Romania organized a "Hea...

Commitment and Passion at Family Campus in ITALY
(17 June 2009)

Approximately 100 athletes, family members, students from the Lucrezio Caro Institute, in Rome, and volunteers, gathered in Sibari, Italy for the seventh edition of Special Olympics Italy Family Campus (30 May-6 June). Family campuses are an important moment for friendly debates and exchange. Pino Montemurri & Patrizia Polsinelli, organize...

SERBIA: Youth Unified Sports® in the Spotlight
(16 June 2009)

National Unified Sports® Basketball tournament in southern Serbia highlights the European Youth Unified Basketball development projectOn 13 June, six teams from different parts of Serbia came together for a national Unified Sports® Basketball competition at the top class Basketball Hall “Kej” in Pirot in southern Serbia. The aim...

BULGARIA: Special Olympics athlete joins UNICEF Ambassador Berbatov
(10 June 2009)

On 7 June, 2009 UNICEF Ambassador Dimitar Berbatov launched the “It’s about ability” publication in Bulgarian. He was joined by Nikolay Panaiotov, Special Olympics athlete (12), national artistic gymnastics champion Bistra Stareishinka (10), and Dr. Octavian Bivol, UNICEF Representative in Bulgaria.  Berbatov read his favorit...

Youthful Countdown Celebration in POLAND
(10 June 2009)

Approximately 4,300 students of general and special schools in Warsaw gathered on 9 June to take part in the 15-month countdown to the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games.  The educational picnic “Join us, Let’s Fly a kite”, was held under the patronage of the Warsaw city Mayor, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, outs...

TURKEY: Two More Universities Sign Agreements to Support Special Olympics
(9 June 2009)

Special Olympics Turkey continued to build on its efforts to cooperate with universities with the signing of cooperative agreements with two more universities.  This brings the total number of cooperative agreements with universities to five since the initiative was started at the beginning of April 2009.On 29 May, 2009 Prf. Dr. Hali...

European Street Football Festival in BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA
(5 June 2009)

From May 20-24, 2009, the town of Foča in Bosnia and Herzegovina once again played host to the second European Street Football Festival.  This unique event in the field of Development through Football was initiated by streetfootballworld (www.streetfootballworld.org). Established in 2002, Streetfootballworld encourages global partner...

Timothy Shriver Officially Opens Headquarters in Dublin, IRELAND
(3 June 2009)

Timothy Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics Inc., the world’s largest sport program for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, was joined by Special Olympics athletes and staff as he officially opened the Dublin-based headquarters of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE).Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia recently moved i...

Youth Unified Basketball in LITHUANIA
(2 June 2009)

The soul of the team is BolFor several years "Vilijampole" boarding house, in Kaunas, Lithuania have been in contact with students and athletes from the nearby mainstream school in Garliava. At first there were only occasional meetings but when the Special Olympics Unified Basketball program started in Lithuania last year, providing oppor...

Special Olympics, Sports and the Lisbon Treaty
(29 May 2009)

LISBON TREATY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR SPORTS IN EUROPESpecial Olympics Europe/Eurasia Seminar on European Union (EU) White Paper on Sports Calls on Support for Lisbon Treaty to Enhance Visibility of Sports in EU Policy MakingA seminar on the EU White Paper on Sports hosted on 29 May 2009 in Dublin, Ireland by Special Olympics Europe/...

TURKEY: University Opens Doors to 500 Special Olympics Athletes
(25 May 2009)

Special Olympics Turkey organized another in a series of events in cooperation with universities – this time in the northwestern city of Edirne.  On 23 May, 2009 Vice Presidents Prof. Dr. Beyhan Karamanlıoğlu and Prof. Dr. Kemal Kutlu of Trakya University, welcomed Special Olympics Turkey President Necmettin...

UNICEF Representative Attends Special Olympics Football Tournament in KAZAKHSTAN
(20 May 2009)

On 28-29 April 2009 a UNICEF representative attended a football tournament organized by Special Olympics Kazakhstan in Almaty.  Two hundred athletes participated in the tournament.  Raimbek Sissemaliev, head of the UNICEF Almaty Zone Office, and Program Officer, attended Opening Ceremonies and a press conference. Special Smiles and F...

Special Olympics TURKEY Celebrates Athletes’ Return
(20 May 2009)

Special Olympics Turkey organized a memorable return for its team of athletes who competed in the Special Olympics European Football Tournament in Lisbon in May.  A press conference and buffet breakfast was held at an exclusive restaurant by the Bosphorus on 13 May, 2009. Eight national television broadcasters and 28 print journalists attended...

University cooperation, Youth Unified project in TURKEY
(20 May 2009)

Special Olympics Turkey organized tournaments in six regions during the Special Olympics European Football Tournament held 25 April-3 May 2009.  Forty-five teams took part including 35 Unified teams and 10 five-a-side teams from 19 cities.  A total of 500 competitors took to the pitch during the local and regional tournaments.  The t...

Vodafone Foundation Support Secures Successful Special Olympics European Football Week in Six Countries
(19 May 2009)

The ninth annual Special Olympics European Football Week was held 25 April-3 May, 2009. This year the focus was on Unified Football activities with young players aged 14-25. Special Olympics Unified Sports® combines players with (called Athletes) and without (called Partners) intellectual disability on the same sports teams for training and com...

Lower Ability Athletes in the Spotlight in PORTUGAL
(15 May 2009)

Over 200 footballers with intellectual disabilities from 21 countries took part in the first ever Special Olympics European 7-a-Side Football Tournament dedicated to low ability level teams.  The event, hosted by Special Olympics Portugal, took place from 7 May to 10 May. Government ministries, embassies, sports federations, National Olym...

Successful Opening Eyes in Special Olympics PORTUGAL
(13 May 2009)

Special Olympics Portugal launched their Special Olympics-Lions Club International Opening Eyes Program, providing free optometrist screening to athletes with intellectual disabilities during the European Low Ability Football Tournament in Lisbon, Portugal May 7-9.  Nuno Almeida and Jose Carlos,  Portuguese Clinical Directors who tra...

Totthenham Hotspur Foundation Clinic in PORTUGAL
(13 May 2009)

Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, the Official Special Olympics Europe / Eurasia Grassroots Football Provider, hosted a Football Clinic in Lisbon, last week as part of the Special Olympics European 7-a-Side Football Tournament.  More than 100 young athletes with intellectual disability from local schools and 21 national teams representing European...

European Week Highlights in POLAND
(13 May 2009)

A series of 20 local and regional football tournaments was held in 12 regionals of Poland on occasion of the Special Olympics European Football Week.  In total, over 200 male, female and Unified football teams took part.Amongst the highlights of the week were the Special Olympics announcements and promotion during the Polish Football League &q...

ROMANIA Hosts Successful Fun Fitness Seminar
(12 May 2009)

Three experts in physical education from Great Britain, Switzerland and Turkey received hands-on Fun Fitness training, a Special Olympics health initiative focused on physiotherapy and fitness exercises for Special Olympics athletes.  The training took place during the Special Olympics Football Week event in Bucharest, Romania (April 27 &...

GEORGIA: Football Federation signs Memorandum
(11 May 2009)

A memorandum of agreement was signed between Special Olympics Georgia and the Georgian Football Federation on 29 April in Tbilisi. The memorandum, which will cover 2009-2013, outlines support and cooperation between the two organizations. Federation president Nodar Akhalkatsi and Special Olympics National Director Zhaneta Gotsirelu signed the agree...

LUXEMBOURG: Football Family Supports Special Olympics
(11 May 2009)

Three events and great success for the 9th European Football Week in Luxembourg, in which athletes from the two national training centers participated.Two training sessions were organized between Special Olympics athletes and some of the top football players in the country.  New contacts were made and others strengthened: Fons Leweck, Claude R...

AZERBAIJAN: 28 teams play at Premier League Inter grounds
(8 May 2009)

Special Olympics Azerbaijan organized a highly successful football tournament in Baku at the end of April as part of Special Olympics European Football Week.  From 25-27 April, 300 Special Olympics players from Baku, Absheron, Sumqait, Lenkaran, Sheki competed on the home grounds of Premier League club Inter Baki.  In total, 28 teams part...

Inclusion EUROPE visits SOEE offices
(8 May 2009)

Inclusion Europe promotes the rights of individuals with disabilities.  Sandrine Genecot and Soufiane El Amrani, two of its self-representatives, and their support person Beatrice Paquet came to visit the offices of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia in Brussels on May 6.  In effort to better understand civil and public society, the self-adv...

GREAT BRITAIN: Tottenham Hotspur Supports Unified Football
(6 May 2009)

Tottenham Hotspur Manager Harry Redknapp and the Club’s striker, Robbie Keane attended the first leg of a Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) Roadshow  to promote Unified Football®.  The event which took place on Thursday 30th April, was hosted by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, at the Football Club’s trainin...

3000 Participants for Football Week in UKRAINE
(5 May 2009)

Seventeen Ukrainian regions hosted different local football activities including training sessions, seminars, local tournaments, which were all officially included into the All-Ukrainian Football Day calendar of the national federation. “Our mission is to support all football activities in Ukraine," said Boris Voskresenskiy, Vi...

SERBIA: Unified concept presented at Sport for Development conference
(29 April 2009)

The British Council Serbia organized a one-day conference on “Sport for Development” on 24 March 2009 in Belgrade. The event was organized together with UNICEF in Serbia.Speakers came from the UK, Turkey, Switzerland and Israel and there were over 140 participants from Serbia. Participants included policy makers and practitioners from a...

Coerver Coaching Session in DENMARK
(29 April 2009)

Coerver Coaching Nordic invited 30 athletes and coaches from Special Olympics Denmark to two professional training sessions in Vejle, Denmark. The first lesson was designated to Special Olympics football coaches (15 participants) and second for a SO Team from Enghaven, Odense. Afterwords the coaches said, that "it has been very inspiring ...

Unified Football Games at UEFA
(28 April 2009)

UEFA and its partner Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia joined forces to celebrate the joy of football with a match in Nyon, Switzerland, on 27 April.A Unified GameAs part of the ninth Special Olympics Football Week (from 25 April to May 3), a Unified football match involving local Special Olympics players and UEFA staff was held at Colovray Stad...

TURKEY: Cooperative agreement with university signed
(27 April 2009)

Special Olympics Turkey signed the first in a series of cooperative agreements with universities on 24 April 2009.  The agreement, which covers cooperation in the areas of sports, volunteer support, venues and technical assistance, was signed with Akdeniz University in the coastal city of Antalya. The agreement was signed in the office of the ...

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Backs Bid for Urgent Funding
(23 April 2009)

Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia has received a significant boost on April 23, 2009 in its bid to secure funding from the European Union (EU).With 436 signatures, the European Parliament passed a written declaration in support of the organisation."Special Olympics is EU policy in action," said Katerina Batzeli, Greek member of the European...

Youth Unified® Basketball in RUSSIA
(17 April 2009)

Special Olympics Russia is part of the European Youth Unified® Sports Basketball development project.  Special Olympics Unified Sports break down social barriers between individuals with intellectual disability (called athletes) and without intellectual disabilities (called partners) by bringing them together on teams for sports training a...

Football Week to Focus on Inclusion and Coach Recruitment
(10 April 2009)

The ninth annual Special Olympics European Football Week will be held 25 April-3 May, 2009. An estimated 50,000 players with intellectual disabilities are expected to participate in football events in 45 countries throughout Europe/Eurasia.  This year the focus will be on bringing young people with and without intellectual disabilities togethe...

Rapid Growth for BOCCE in Europe/Eurasia
(9 April 2009)

Bocce, one of the most rapidly developping sport in Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, is a bowl sport originating from Italy.  From March 30 to April 3 Lodi region in Italy hosted the 2009 Special Olympics regional bocce tournament and regional bocce seminar.The sport was introduced to Special Olympics programs in ...

GREECE: Join the Wonderful Winning World
(8 April 2009)

Twenty seven GOC members, 14 Goodwill Ambassadors and 2,800 volunteers registered already...   Things are getting hot in Athens, Greece, with increasing number of supporters rallying the Games Organizing Committee of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games (25 June – 4 July, 2011).The games volunteer recruitment campaign was in...

One Month to the Ninth Special Olympics European Football Week
(25 March 2009)

The ninth Special Olympics European Football Week will emphasize on Youth Unified Sports® football, a community integration supported through a three-year-grant from the Vodafone Foundation The ninth annual Special Olympics European Football Week will be held 25 April-3 May, 2009. An estimated 50,000 players with intellectual disabilities are e...

GERMANY Hosts Successful Sub-regional Train-the-Trainers Seminar
(20 March 2009)

Five medical volunteers from Portugal, Great Britain and Turkey received hands-on training during Special Olympics Germany National Winter Games in Inzell, Germany on March 2–5, 2009.  Over 1000 screenings in Opening Eyes, Health Promotion, Special Smiles, Healthy Hearing and Fit Feet were conducted during the Games and the five trainees...

Launch of Youth Unified Football League in GREAT BRITAIN
(20 March 2009)

On Saturday 14 March, Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) in partnership with The Vodafone Foundation and Fitflop, launched the first division of the national Youth Unified Football League. The SOGB Youth Unified Football – North West League included 4 teams with a total of 50 SOGB Athletes and Unified Partners from Halton and Bolton.This g...

ROMANIA: President honors Winter World Games delegation
(18 March 2009)

The Special Olympics Romania delegation that participated in the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho, USA, was decorated by the President of Romania at a ceremony held at the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest on 17 March 2009.  The President, Traian Basescu, honored the delegation as a sign of appreciation for the team’s exce...

Announcing the 9th Special Olympics European Football Week
(16 March 2009)

The Ninth Special Olympics European Football Week bringing people with and without disabilities together will take place from 25 April to 3 May, 2009.  This one-week event promoting awareness and acceptance will involve over 50,000 football players with and without intellectual disabilities in 50 countries are expected to take part in a wide r...

MACEDONIA: Humanitarian Slalom to Benefit Special Olympics
(15 March 2009)

One of the most beautiful ski resorts in Macedonia was the site of a humanitarian slalom organized to benefit Special Olympics Macedonia.  Every year, the Bistra Ski Resort, located in the Mavrovo National Park, organizes the event that attracts the country’s top companies and best skiers. This year the event, held 28 February-1 March, w...

Coca Cola Awards Athletes in SERBIA
(13 March 2009)

Coca-Cola System, a sponsor of Special Olympics Serbia since 2003, awarded certificates of appreciation to Special Olympics athletes on March 12.  The ten athletes of the national delegation to 2009 IX Special Olympics World Winter Games took place from February 04-14 in Boise, Idaho (USA), gathered to celebrate their 18 medals.“It is a ...

Young athletes highlighted at Special Olympics-UNICEF event in ROMANIA
(9 March 2009)

Fifty Special Olympics athletes attended a joint Special Olympics Romania-UNICEF competition in Cluj, Romania on 6 March, 2008. The event marked the closure of a project developed in 2008 together with four associations and institutions for children with intellectual disabilities. During the event, 20 parents from the Family Support Network program...

ROMANIA:Young Athletes training provides fun and support
(4 March 2009)

Young children with intellectual disabilities have been taking part in a Young Athletes training session in Cluj, Romania.  The sessions are part of a Special Olympics Romania-UNICEF project. “Inclusive communities for children with developmental disabilities.” Two local associations and two institutions for children with intellect...

Countdown for 2011 World Games in GREECE Begins
(3 March 2009)

During Closing Ceremonies of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho, USA, Tourism Development Minister Costas Markopoulos represented Greece, the host of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, in the traditional passing of the Special Olympics flag. Markopoulos and Joanna Despotopoulou, the president of the organising com...

Spotlight for Athletes in ROMANIA
(27 February 2009)

Twelve Romanian national and local sports press and news sites covered the participation of their national delegation to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in the United States. Prior to departure, a fashion show organized by Romanian designer Adrian Oianu and  Special Olympics Romania contributed to raising funds and awareness for S...

Excellent MEDIA Coverage Region-wide
(26 February 2009)

National broadcasters and media provided excellent coverage of national delegations who competed in the 2009 World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho in the United States.  In total, 973 athletes and 419 coaches from Europe/Eurasia competed in alpine and cross country skiing, figure and speed skating, floor hockey, snowboarding and snowshoeing. &nbs...

KYRGYZSTAN: Special Olympics Honored at Sports Press Conference
(25 February 2009)

The Kyrgyz Republic delegation to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games was honored at a press conference by Kabar agency in Bishkek on February, 20, 2009.  Representatives of the highest sports governing entities in the country participated in the event.Kanat Amankulov, General Secretary of the National Olympic Committee informed about...

WORLD GAMES: Thousands of Photos and Videos on the web!
(18 February 2009)

The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho have sadly coming to a close.  It was a week of performances, new friendships, and blue scarves. We are thrilled that many of you were able to share with the almost 2,300 athletes seven days that  featured the best in sports!There is a way to continue to enjoy the competitive performan...

Coach Says Athletes are “Gifts from God to the World”
(17 February 2009)

When Special Olympics Russia began recruiting coaches for Special Olympics in 1992, people were hesitant, said Anna Sedelkova. “Not me,” she declared. “I work at a special school in St. Petersburg and was delighted to help give students more sports opportunities. And after working with these athletes, I will never leave them. They...

WORLD GAMES: Biden Announces First Presidential Assistant Focused on Disability Policy
(16 February 2009)

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCES KAREEM DALE AS SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR DISABILITY POLICYOn his visit to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, USA on February 12, Vice President Joe Biden  announced Kareem Dale as Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. The Vice President, who was leading a P...

Coach and Athlete from GERMANY: Be a fan of Family
(13 February 2009)

Special Olympics Germany athlete Werner, 21, and his sister Franzi Eikenbergs are not just siblings and friends, but they are also athlete and coach.  In the last couple of days, they participated in the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Figure Skating Singles.Special Olympics promotes Family Support Networks worldwide.  For add...

INTER MILAN First Team Ambassador for Special Olympics Global Football
(13 February 2009)

At a press conference in Milan, Italy, one of the world's leading football clubs, Inter Milan, announced becoming the first Team Ambassador for Special Olympics Global Football."It is estimated that only 1 in 500 children with intellectual disabilities will be given the chance to play football," shared Inter board member Angelo Moratti, w...

Joe Biden to Visits World Games Today
(12 February 2009)

Washington, DC – Vice President Joe Biden is leading a Presidential Delegation to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho on Thursday, February 12. Vice President Biden and the delegation joined approximately 2,500 athletes from nearly 100 countries worldwide, their families, as well as thousands of coaches, family member...

Health Needs and Opportunities for People with Intellectual Disabilities
(11 February 2009)

Ioana Ciobanu, Special Olympics Global Messenger from Romania, was part of a panel discussion on the health needs and opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities in Boise, Idaho on February 11, 2009.Other panelists included Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics, Dr. Stanley Shepperd, Chairman of Healthone Global and ...

WORLD GAMES: First Medals Awarded
(11 February 2009)

Special Olympics Switzerland swept the gold, sliver and bronze medals in the snowboarding advanced giant slalom competition on 9 February 2009. The first medals of the 2009 World Winter Games marked the start of competition in the largest sporting event to be held in Idaho this year. The snowboarding competition took place on Dollar Mountain in Sun...

Global Youth Rally Advocates for Acceptance
(10 February 2009)

The Special Olympics Global Youth Unity Rally filled Taco Bell Arena at Boise State University with thousands of students from Idaho, USA, and a distinct message: Words are powerful.In the arena, as students danced in their seats to feel-good classics like "Shout!," and did the wave, urged on by emcee, stand-up comedian Wali Collins, spea...

World Winter Games are Underway!
(9 February 2009)

The much anticipated 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games were kicked off with a spectacular Opening Ceremony on 7 February in Boise, Idaho, USA. Stay tuned! If you’re a fan of skill, inspiration and excitement, stay tuned, because competition is heating up at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho! The 2009 World Wi...

World Games LIVE on live.specialolympics.org
(8 February 2009)

Bringing more than 2,000 athletes from nearly 1000 countries with support from thousands of coaches, volunteers, family members and spectators, the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be the largest international sporting and humanitarian event this year.Follow the games from anywhere in the world on  http://live.specialolympics.org/...

Global Launch of "Be a Fan" Campaign
(4 February 2009)

This week, Special Olympics will launch its first-ever global marketing campaign during their 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The Be a fan™ campaign, created by Special Olympics International Board Director Andrew Robertson and his team at BBDO Worldwide, was developed to highlight the commonality of all people and the values we all...

Global Youth Rally - Save the Date!
(2 February 2009)

Get Your School, Family, Friends, etc. Involved! It is still time to register to the 2009 Special Olympics Global Youth Rally, and if you cannot attend in person, watch it live on February 9! The Special Olympics Global Youth Rally will bring together around 3,000 youth with and without intellectual disabilities on Monday, 9 February 200...

Secretary of State Visits Delegation in TURKEY
(30 January 2009)

In preparation of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, USA, six athletes from Special Olympics Turkey and their coaches spent one week ( 19 January - 25 January ) on the Ilgaz Mountain in the city limits of Kastamonu, Turkey which is in the west Black Sea region.  During their stay, Special Olymipcs athletes were visited by...

Final Leg for the Law Enforcement Torch Run
(29 January 2009)

Global Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Reaching the end of its three-month journey across five continents , the Special Olympics Flame has now reached Idaho, USA on January 29, 2009.  The international team of 118 members, which includes 80 Law Enforcement Officer runners, 10...

Special Olympics Announces Celebrities Attending 2009 World Winter Games
(26 January 2009)

Movie Stars, Olympic and Professional Athletes, Newsmakers and Government Officials Set to be Fans of Thousands of Special Olympics Athletes in FebruarySpecial Olympics announced today the several celebrities, Olympic and professional athletes, senior government leaders and other key newsmakers that are scheduled to attend the 2009 Special Olympics...

Queen Elizabeth II meets Special Olympics athletes in GREAT BRITAIN
(21 January 2009)

Queen Elizabeth II was introduced to Special Olympics athletes Peter Girvin, Laurence Black, Jackie Andresier and Stephen Treisman at the opening of a new group home on Thursday 11 December 2008.The visit took place at The Pamela Barnett Center, a new Norwood Ravenwood home for adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities, in Berkshire, ...

National Youth Unified Football Tournament in TURKEY
(20 January 2009)

As par of a three-year Unified development plan, Special Olympics Turkey organized a National Youth Unified Football Tournament on December 18 2008.  Twelve teams with a total of 120 players traveled to the Turkish Football Federation Sports Complex football fields in Istanbul’s Beylerbeyi district to compete against each other. The 12 t...

Swimmers in CROATIA Take part in European Championship
(12 January 2009)

Upon invitation of Mr. Tomislav Karlo, Secretary of the Croatian Swimming Federation, Special Olympics Croatia participated in the 12th European Short Swimming Championship in Croatia on 11 to 14 December 2008.  Eight Special Olympics Croatian swimmers from Rijeka, Krk, Zagreb and Dugo Selo had the opportunity to show their skills during a 2...

Vodafone MALTA Foundation Thanked For Its Support
(16 December 2008)

Special Olympics Malta hosts a ceremony to thank sponsors and competitors in the 2008 Special Olympics Small Nations 7-a-side Football Tournament in Aiya-Napa, Cyprus (on November 2-7) Anna Calleja, National director of Special Olympics Malta, appeals for qualified coaches to volunteer so...

National Youth Unified Football seminar in FRANCE
(15 December 2008)

Special Olympics France hosted a Youth Unified Football® Seminar in Eaubonne near Paris on December 13.  The day opened with a demonstration game between two youth Unified teams from F.C. Saint-Cloud Paris that served as a basis for some seminar sessions.The sixteen participants represented eight regions in France who will join the Youth U...

UZBEKISTAN: Celebrations for children to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities
(12 December 2008)

Probably no other Special Olympics National Program celebrated the UN’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December as extensively as what was organized in Uzbekistan. A concert was held in cooperation with UNICEF and Caravan Holding, the general sponsor of Special Olympics Uzbekistan.  More than 350 people, including ch...

Special Olympics Meets with EU Sports Ministers
(8 December 2008)

SPECIAL OLYMPICS received a significant boost on Friday 28 November 2008 in its bid to secure funding for its programs across Europe.Mary Davis, Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, addressed the EU Sports Council meeting in Biarritz to seek annual support to the organization from the European Union.  EU funding would enable S...

Basketball Week: Full Court Press across the Region
(4 December 2008)

The fifth Special Olympics European Basketball Week is in full swing across the region with at least 12,000 basketball players with intellectual disabilities from over 25 countries participating in a wide range of activities. This represents the fifth consecutive year that the region has dedicated a week to develop the sport. It is also the fifth y...

ROMANIA: Global Messenger and Nadia Comaneci Shoot Promotional Video
(26 November 2008)

Iona Ciobanu, Special Olympics Romania athlete and spokesperson, as well as Global Messenger for the worldwide organization has been extremely active recently.  After officially opening the Special Olympics Europea/Eurasia Leadership Conference that was held 14-15 November in Bucharest, she gave a speech at a conferenc...

UNICEF and Special Olympics team up in Kazakhstan
(24 November 2008)

From 23-24 October 2008 in the city of Semei, in eastern Kazakhstan, a FunFitness training seminar was organized by Special Olympics Kazakhstan in cooperation with UNICEF. The initiative was part of a project entitled “The human capacity empowerment on the territory of the former nuclear testing site of Semey.”“We are launchi...

KAZAKHSTAN: Mobile Company GSM Kazakhstan KCell presents $100,000 Check
(23 November 2008)

On 21-22 October, Special Olympics Kazakhstan organized meetings with the government, general sponsors, partners and international organizations.  The meetings, held on occasion of the visit of Mary Davis, managing director, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE), and Krzysztof Krukowski, director, organizational development, SOEE, to Almaty, ...

CYPRUS: UEFA presents SOEE with check to continue football development
(21 November 2008)

The ninth Special Olympics Football Coordinators Meeting was held 2-3  November 2008 and  was attended by 43 representatives from 32 countries. Among the guests speakers were Michel Sablon (Belgium Football Federation and UEFA Jira Panel), James Isaac (Tottenham Hotspur Foundation), Brad Douglas (Coerver Coaching Nordic) and Mike Smi...

POLAND: Flame of Hope receives heartfelt welcome
(19 November 2008)

On 18 November, 2008, the city of Warsaw welcomed the Flame of Hope during its three-month journey as part of the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run. The Flame was carried through Warsaw by a relay consisting of 220 runners. Among them, there were five Special Olympics athletes, three Polish Olympians, 20 volunteers from DHL, and law enforcement...

Vodafone ROMANIA participates in Unified Football Tournament
(18 November 2008)

Ten Vodafone Romania employees joined 60 Special Olympics athletes and partners in a Unified Football Tournament in Bucharest, Romania on November 12, 2008.The opportunity to play sports can have a pivotal impact upon Special Olympics athletes themselves but the impact on those who participate alongside them can be profound too.George Moroianu,...

Regional Conference on Partnerships, Planning, Fundraising and Grant Writing Held in Romania
(18 November 2008)

Close to 110 delegates from over 50 National Programs attended the Special Olympics Regional Conference that was held 14-15 November in Bucharest, Romania.  The two-day conference was filled with presentations and workshops.  During the Opening Session, the keynote speaker was Octavian Bellu, President of the National Agency for Sports.&n...

POLAND: Agreement to hold European Games signed in Warsaw
(17 November 2008)

On the 17 November 2008 an agreement to organize the Special Olympics European Summer Games 2010 was signed in Warsaw, Poland.  The signing took place at the Polish Olympic Committee Center.  Mary Davis, Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE), and Zbigniew Niemczycki, President, Special Olympics European Summer Games 20...

GREECE: Official lighting ceremony and start of Global Law Enforcement Torch Run®
(10 November 2008)

The official lighting ceremony of the Flame of Hope™ for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be held Wednesday, 12 November, at the Atrium, Zappeion Megaron in Athens, Greece.   Upon its lighting, the flame will embark on a three-month worldwide journey known as the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run® -- a signature ...

FIBA Europe endorses Basketball Week for fifth consecutive year
(10 November 2008)

FIBA Europe will endorse Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE) for the fifth consecutive year during the Special Olympics European Basketball Week to be held 29 November-7 December 2008 across the region.  Basketball Week is expected to involve 15,000 basketball players with intellectual disabilities from 35 countries in a wide range of activ...

ALBANIA: Vodafone Albania Foundation and Special Olympics Team Up in Tirana
(3 November 2008)

Vodafone Albania Foundation in cooperation with Special Olympics Albania organized Special Olympics National Games held on 28-30 October 2008 in Tirana.  Two hundred and fifty Special Olympics athletes representing 12 teams from nine regions competed in football, basketball table tennis, athletics and bowling.  The event was the first coo...

GREAT BRITAIN: The Vodafone Foundation helps launch Unified project
(23 October 2008)

Special Olympics Great Britain in partnership with The Vodafone Foundation launched the Youth Unified Football® Development Project on 22 October, 2008 in London. The launch, held at a community pitch, brought a Special Olympics Unified team from Merseyside to play against the All Parliamentary Football squad. The All Parliamentary Football squ...

NBA: Basketball giants give Special Olympics players tips
(23 October 2008)

During the 2008 Europe Live Tour, NBA Cares once again had a big presence in Europe. NBA Cares is the NBA’s social responsibility program that builds upon the NBA’s tradition of addressing important social issues with an emphasis on programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes. This ...

SPAIN: Over 2,000 athletes screened during National Games
(15 October 2008)

Special Olympics Spain athlete Juan Jose Querol Grass used to be very nervous when he visited a doctor. But that all changed when his eyes were tested at an Opening Eyes screening that was organized during the Sixth Special Olympics Spain National Games that were held recently.  “It was very funny to be with the doctors and not have any ...

HUNGARY: Vodafone Foundation supports Unified event
(8 October 2008)

Special Olympics Hungary organized the 2008 National Youth Unified® Football Tournament in Szeged, Hungary , from 3-5 October, 2008. Twelve teams - 120 players with and without intellectual disability aged 14-25 - competed in 7-a-side football in the “Kisstadion.”   The competition was held as part of a Unified Footba...

BULGARIA: Team MATTEL pitches in at National Games
(5 October 2008)

The 2008 Special Olympics Bulgaria National Summer Games were held on the campus of the National Sports Academy in Sofia 1-3 October 2008. Three hundred Special Olympics athletes and Unified Sports® partners participated. Nine sports were offered including five Unified:  Unified Basketball, Unified Bocce, Unified Dodge Ball (a popular nati...

Poznan in POLAND hosts University Seminar
(24 September 2008)

Representatives from 20 university faculties attended a Special Olympics University Seminar in Poznan, Poland on September 18-21, 2008.  The main goal of the Seminar was to introduce and distribute a comprehensive Special Olympics University Curriculum package to all participants to support conducting Special Olympics courses in their...

UEFA, Parliament, Commission and RSC Anderlecht support Special Olympics Football in the Park
(19 September 2008)

On 17 September 2008 Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia hosted its fourth football tournament in Brussels, Belgium.  "This is the fourth consecutive year that Special Olympics and UEFA have hosted this tournament, and it becomes more popular each time," said William Gaillard, UEFA Director of Communications.   Watch the v...

Special Olympics 40th Anniversary
(20 July 2008)

On 20 July Special Olympics celebrates the 40 year anniversary of Eunice Kennedy Shriver declaring the first International Special Olympics Games (now World Games) officially open with the words, “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”For 40 years Special Olympics has been changing the lives of people with int...

KAZAKHSTAN: UN representatives attend Central Asian FunFitness training seminar
(14 July 2008)

Special Olympics Kazakhstan hosted the first Central Asia Healthy Athletes® Funfitness Train-The-Trainer seminar in Almaty July 3-6 2008. Volunteer physiotherapists and sport medics from Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were trained as Clinical Directors. Central Asian National Directors also participated. Th...

Historic Climb of Montblanc for Managing Director, Mary Davis
(9 July 2008)

Between 30 June and 1 July, Mary Davis, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Managing Director, participated as Ireland's representative in a climb of Montblanc, France, organised by the French EU Presidency.The climb of the highest summit in Europe represented a symbolic gesture uniting 27 women from all countries of the European Un...

UNICEF and Special Olympics ROMANIA Sign Cooperative Agreement
(4 July 2008)

The global UNICEF-Special Olympics partnership, announced 3 October, 2007 on the occasion of the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, inspired Special Olympics Romania to take action. As a result, on 1 July 2008, the two Romania-based organizations signed an agreement of cooperation in Bucharest to implement a project: “Inclusive ...

Coca Cola President Meets Special Olympics in ISRAEL
(3 July 2008)

Muhtar Kent, Coca-Cola President and Chief Operating Officer, and Special Olympics Board member, met with Special Olympics Israel athletes and program representatives in Jerusalem on June 25, 2008.  Kent was on an official visit to the country to meet President Shimon Peres and Coca-Cola officials.  Special Olympics athletes and staff wer...

Athletes Advocate for AFRICA
(26 June 2008)

Special Olympics Ireland hosted a conference in Dublin, Ireland (June 22-26) as part of an initiative by Special Olympics programs in Europe to improve capacity building among similar programs in Africa.The initiative has received support from Irish Aid, the Irish Government’s program of assistance to developing countries, and from the Europe...

Great Success for Healthy Athletes Screenings in GERMANY
(24 June 2008)

More than 3600 athletes competed in 17 sports during the Special Olympics Germany National Games in Karlsruhe (16-20 June 2008). For the first time in the history of Special Olympics Germany screenings in all six Healthy Athletes disciplines (Opening Eyes, Funfitness, Healthy Hearing, Health Promotion, Special Smiles and FitFeet) were offered to pa...

NBA Players Teach Skills to Special Olympics TURKEY Athletes
(23 June 2008)

Within the context of Basketball Without Borders which is one of the community outreach programs of the NBA, some 80 athletes between the ages of 8 - 14 from one of the local special schools in Istanbul, Turkey, attended a one-hour basketball clinic conducted by NBA instructors on 5 June, 2008.In the presence of almost 100 media...

UZBEKISTAN Hosts First Central Asian Gymnastics Competition
(23 June 2008)

Special Olympics Uzbekistan hosted the first Central Asian gymnastics competition from 14-18 June 2008 in Tashkent.  More than 100 young Special Olympics gymnasts between the ages of 8 and 21 from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan with guest teams from Russia and Great Britain competed in rhythmic gymnas...

UNICEF-Special Olympics Conference Brings Together NGOs on Disability Issues
(23 June 2008)

UNICEF and Special Olympics Uzbekistan jointly organized a conference 13-14 June 2008 in Tashkent.  The conference, titled “Commitment to Changing the Lives of Children and Young People with Different Abilities,” brought together approximately 60 representatives of United Nations agencies, national bodies dealing with disability is...

Special Olympics Team Play Before Quarter Final of UEFA EURO 2008
(20 June 2008)

Eleven Special Olympics Austria players and a team representing the Austrian disability group ÖBSV, had the opportunity to play a pre-match at Vienna's Ernst-Happel-Stadion before the Croatia-Turkey UEFA Euro2008 quarter-final on 20 June 2008. They played a 14-minute demonstration match against each other as part of UEFA's Football for All cam...

Extensive TV Coverage for National Games in SERBIA
(20 June 2008)

Pirot, Serbia was host to the Third Special Olympics Serbia National Games on 5-8 June 2008.  Two hundred and eighty participants competed in football, basketball, athletics and table tennis.  Two divisions for male and female Unified football® competed in the event.The games were opened by Lord Mayor Vladan Vasic and Specia...

Great Basketball and Warm Hospitality in TURKEY
(19 June 2008)

The Special Olympics European  Basketball Tournament, hosted by Special Olympics Turkey, was held in Marmaris, Turkey from 26-31 May 2008. One hundred and twenty six Special Olympics players from 16 countries participated in an unforgettable experience in the port city located on the Aegean Sea. This was the fourth regional basketball tourname...

TORCH RUN® Committee Meets in Dublin, Ireland
(4 June 2008)

Thirteen members of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Council for Special Olympics gathered in Dublin, Ireland on May 11, 2008.  Members represented committees of Law Enforcement officers in Great Britain, Ireland, Nothern Ireland, Netherlands, Gibraltar, Austria and Poland who strive to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics activities in...

SERBIA: Youth and Sport Minister Congratulates Special Olympics Athletes
(3 June 2008)

On 8 May, 2008 Special Olympics Serbia footballers were greeted at the airport in Belgrade by Snezana Markovic Samardzic, Minister of Youth and Sport, when the team returned with a gold medal that they won at the Special Olympics European Football Cup.Markovic held a press conference and congratulated the athletes and ...

Youth Unified Basketball® Development Project
(2 June 2008)

The Special Olympics Youth Unified Basketball® “bounced off” with a seminar held in Marmaris, Turkey, 26-28 May 2008.  Eight Special Olympics representatives from Lithuania, Germany, Ukraine, Russia, Serbia, and Bulgaria participated in the seminar that was held parallel to the Special Olympics European Bask...

Successful Eighth Annual Special Olympics Football Week
(2 June 2008)

An estimated 50,000 players with intellectual disabilities participated in football events in more than 50 countries throughout Europe/Eurasia during the Special Olympics European Football Week.  Football Week, which is in its eighth season, was held this year from 3-10 May. Football Week also served to launc...

Local Communities in Four Countries Host Over 500 Special Olympics Players
(30 May 2008)

The 2008 Special Olympics European 11-a-side Football Cup was held 2-8 May 2008 in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany. Special Olympics Austria and Special Olympics Switzerland jointly hosted the event, in partnership with Special Olympics Liechtenstein and Special Olympics Germany. The Cup involved 550 Special Olympics footballers fro...

New President and COO for Special Olympics
(27 May 2008)

On 20 May, 2008, the Special Olympics International Board of Directors elected J. Brady Lum as President and Chief Operating Officer of Special Olympics. Timothy Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics, introduced Lum to the Board Directors at their meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, which was hosted by The Coca-Cola Company, a founding partne...

Special Olympics Honors World Games Supporters
(26 May 2008)

On 19 May 2008, at a dinner held at The World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia, USA Special Olympics recognized organizations and individuals whose contributions were critical success factors of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Shanghai, China, last October.The recipients were the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organiz...

Coach Assistants Reach New Hights
(19 May 2008)

The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation (THF) uses sport and football in particular as a means to improve the quality of life for children and young people in local communities. The Foundation receives significant financial support from Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, one of England's Premier League Clubs.James Isaac, THF Inclusion  Officer for...

EYID: European Identity and Citizenship
(12 May 2008)

The enlargement of the European Union, deregulation of employment laws and globalisation have increased the multicultural character of many countries, adding to the number of languages, religions, ethnic and cultural backgrounds found on the continent. As a result, intercultural dialogue has an increasingly important role to play in fostering Europ...

BULGARIA: Team MATTEL Pitches in at National Games
(10 May 2008)

The 2008 Special Olympics Bulgaria National Summer Games were held on the campus of the National Sports Academy in Sofia 1-3 October 2008. Three hundred Special Olympics athletes and Unified Sports® partners participated. Nine sports were offered including five Unified:  Unified Basketball, Unified Bocce, Unified Dodge Ball (a popular nati...

TURKEY: Special Olympics European Basketball Tournament in Marmaris
(9 May 2008)

Special Olympics Turkey will host the 2008 Special Olympics European Basketball Tournament from 27-30 May in Marmaris, a city located on the Aegean coast.  Sixteen teams from 16 countries will be competing.  Delegations will get their first taste of Turkish hospitality as they are greeted by the citizens of Marmaris during a parade t...

GREECE: Getting Ready for 2009 World Winter Games
(29 April 2008)

An Alpine Skiing and Snowshoeing training session was organized in late February at Seli Mountain in Verria in northern Greece in preparation for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho, USA.  Thirty athletes from Athens, Patras, Serres, Drama and Verria participated in the two-day event. Special Olympics Greece co-organized the ...

Special Olympics European Football Cup 2008
(29 April 2008)

The Special Olympics European Football Cup 2008 will be held in communities in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany from 2 to 8 May 2008.  This 11-a-side tournament will be the largest Special Olympics regional football event this year.  The event is being organized by Special Olympics Austria and Special Olympics Switzerland i...

DENMARK Hosts Floorball and Floor Hockey Tournament and Seminar
(28 April 2008)

Special Olympics Denmark hosted a Special Olympics Floorball and Floor Hockey seminar during the first Special Olympics Enlarged Floorball Tournament in Helsingor from April 17 to April 20, 2008.  Eleven teams from six countries took part in the Floorball Tournament organized in collaboration with Danish Floorball Federation who prov...

National Swimming Competition in SERBIA
(25 April 2008)

Seventy-three athletes representing 10 towns in Serbia participated in the Special Olympics Serbia National Swimming Competition in Leskovac on 29 March.  The competition included six events: 25, 50 and 100 m in free style and in breaststroke.The competition was held under auspices of the Ministry of Sports.  During Opening Ceremonie...

GREECE: Special Olympics participates in public awareness campaigns
(23 April 2008)

Two hundred Special Olympics Greece cyclists and their coaches participated in a two-day event bearing the slogan “Make Roads Safe” in Mesologgi. The event, held 13-14 April, was organized in cooperation with the General Secretariat of Sport – Ministry of Culture, the Municipality of Mesologgi, and the local Prefecture and the FIA...

Eighth Annual Special Olympics European Football Week
(22 April 2008)

The eighth annual Special Olympics European Football Week will be held 3-10 May, 2008.  An estimated 50,000 players with intellectual disabilities are expected to participate in football events in more than 50 countries throughout Europe/Eurasia.  This year the focus will be on community-based initiatives with an emphasis on volunteer coa...

GREECE: ‘Join the World of Winners’
(21 April 2008)

Special Olympics was the theme of a two-day seminar called “Join the World of Winners” that was organized by Special Olympics Greece on 4 and 5 March 2008 in Athens.  More than 150 coaches, trainers, officials and representatives of sports organizations gathered to learn more about Special Olympics.  The seminar was opened wit...

ROMANIA: New PSA with Nadia Comaneci screened
(17 April 2008)

On 14 April, 2008, a new public service announcement (PSA) to support Special Olympics Romania was screened at a televised gala event in Bucharest.  Click here to view PSA video clip.  The PSA features Olympic legend and Special Olympics Vice Chair Nadia Comaneci and Special Olympics Romania gymnast Andra Pirvanescu, 18.  The ev...

RUSSIA: Olympic Medalist Supports Special Olympics Athletes
(10 April 2008)

Over 500 athletes, 120 coaches and 300 volunteers representing 34 regions from all over Russia gathered in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 10-17, to attended the 2008 Special Olympics Russia National Winter Games.Athletes competed in seven sports (alpine skiing, cross country skiing, figure skating, speed skating, floor hockey, snowboardi...

Learning about Differences in KYRGYZ REPUBLIC
(9 April 2008)

Fifty students aged 10-12 years with and without intellectual disabilities came together in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic on March 26-28, 2008 for a  SO Get Into It ® camp.  The aim of the three-day camp, organized by Special Olympics Kyrgyz Republic, was to learn how to identify stereotypes that exist in society, learn to b...

"Sport for All" Run in BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA
(9 April 2008)

Adnan Sulejmanovic, a Special Olympics athlete from Bosnia and Herzegovina, participated in Vivicittá, an international sport for all event in Tuzla.  The event, held on 6 April 2008, was organized by the Italian Sport for All Association (UISP).  Vivicittá brings more than 70,000 citizens to run simultaneously in diffe...

TURKEY: Special Olympics Athlete Carries Olympic Torch
(8 April 2008)

Special Olympics Turkey athlete Durducan Nevruz, 16, had the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch through the streets of Istanbul on 3 April 2008.  Joined by 80 other runners, Nevruz ran two km as part of the relay.  “I will never forget this day, “said his mother Sevim Nevruz, who was with her son during the run.  “...

SERBIA Hosts Second National Winter Games
(7 April 2008)

Special Olympics Serbia held it’s Second Winter Games at Kopaonik mountain resort in Serbia on March 20-23, 2008.Winter sports are becoming very popular among Special Olympics Serbia’s athletes and coaches. One hundred and twenty three participants from nine different cities participated.  Competition started with preliminaries and...

TURKMENISTAN Looking Forward to Hosting International Events
(1 April 2008)

From 22-28 March 2008, Krzysztof Krukowski, Director, Organizational Development, Special Olympics/Eurasia, visited the Special Olympics National Program in Turkmenistan.  During his visit, Krukowski was in the capital, Ashgabat, where he and Program staff met with representatives from city government, the sports ministry, the American Embassy...

Vodafone Group Foundation Supports Unified® Football
(26 March 2008)

Special Olympics Youth Unified® Football Project was kicked off during a seminar in Brussels, Belgium on March 11-13, 2008Special Olympics received a 500,000£ grant from the Vodafone Group Foundation over a three-year period to fund Unified® Football projects for young people between 14 and 25.  The funds are allocated to six cou...

NETHERLANDS: Special Olympics Swimmers show their skills at European Championship
(22 March 2008)

Fourteen Special Olympics swimmers from Netherlands participated in a 50-meter freestyle (females) and 50-meter freestyle (males) demonstration took place just before the start of the European Championship finals in Eindhoven, Netherlands on March 22, 2008. Three thousand spectators watched the demonstration, which was shown live on NOS, one o...

SERBIA hosts National Table Tennis Competition
(5 March 2008)

Special Olympics Serbia opened its 2008 sports season with a national Table Tennis competition in Cacak, Serbia on Saturday February 23.   Sixty eight athletes from ten towns took part in the event and competed in 13 divisions.  Special guests were athletes who competed in table tennis at the 2007 Special Olympics Worl...

Euro Parliament Hearing
(3 March 2008)

On 26 February, the Special Olympics movement was given a unique opportunity to testify in front of the Education and Culture Committee of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. Approximately 100 people attended the hearing including Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), representatives from the European Commission and the Council of Mi...

NORWAY: Princess Attends National Games
(25 February 2008)

Special Olympics Norway hosted its 2008 National Cross-Country competition on February 16-14 in Holmenkollen (Oslo, Norway). One hundred and forty athletes participated.  Competition results will serve as a basis for selection of cross-country skiers to represent Special Olymipcs Norway at the 2009 Special Olympics Wor...

The Vodafone Group Foundation to support Unified projects
(21 February 2008)

The Vodafone Group Foundation has announced that Special Olympics will receive £500,000 to fund a European sports project that will help young people with disabilities. Special Olympics will receive its grant over a three-year period to fund Unified® Football projects for young people between 14 and 25.  The funds will be allocated t...

Athens to Host 2011 World Games
(14 February 2008)

Officials Sign the Memorandum of Agreement and Unveil 2011 World Games LogoThe World Games, which promise to be one of the world’s largest multi-sport and humanitarian events that year, will unite 7,500 athletes from more than 170 countries.On February 14, H.E. Karolos Papoulias, President of the Hellenic Republic; H.E. Natasha Karamanlis, wi...

One Year Count-Down to Winter World Games
(8 February 2008)

In just one short year, the spectacular mountains of Boise and Sun Valley, Idaho USA will play host to the world for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. From 6-13 February 2009, nearly 3,000 athletes from 85 countries will compete in seven Olympic-type sports: Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, snowboarding...

ISRAEL: Prime Minister Olmert Meets with Athletes
(28 January 2008)

On January 28,2008, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert received the Special Olympics athletes who represented Israel at the 2007 Special Olympics World Games that were held in China.The athletes showed the Prime Minister their 42 medals proudly won in the eight sports: athletics, aquatics, bowling, cycling, judo, tennis, table tennis, and football.The...

Continued Cooperation with UNICEF in UZBEKISTAN
(25 January 2008)

Special Olympics Uzbekistan and UNICEF are continuing their cooperation in bringing children with and without intellectual disabilities together.  On January 25, 2008 a meeting was held in Tashkent with 25 pupils from mainstream school No. 171 and 30 pupils from special school No. 101, which played host.  The pupils, who ranged in age fro...

Special Olympics on UNICEF video clip
(11 January 2008)

UNICEF and Special Olympics partnered to work together and advocate for health care, education, recreational sports and employment policies that will benefit children with intellectual disabilities.  In Europe/Eurasia, Bulgaria and Uzbekistan and the first two national programs to be included in the project in 2007-2008.The partnersh...

Awards and Accolades for athletes in GREAT BRITAIN
(10 January 2008)

On the close of 2007, Special Olympics Great Britain celebrated its athletes and coaches across England, Scotland and Wales, paying credit to 159 world-class sportsmen and women.Football coach Elaine McKenna was nominated Sunday Times Sportswomen for the Year Award.  The World Summer Games tennis Squad was nominated by the Lawn Tennis Ass...

MONTENEGRO: Inclusive Activities
(7 January 2008)

Special Olympics Montenegro, the newest program in Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, concludes four "SO Get Into It: Youth Get It Going" inclusive activities.  A total of 200 students with intellectual disability and 50 students without intellectual disabilities from four cities were involved. A basketball event was org...

AUSTRIA: Carving Skis and Alpine Skiing
(21 December 2007)

Sixty-six Special Olympics skiers from eight countries participated in the European Alpine Skiing Camp organized in Murau, Austria from 8 to 15 December.  Themes of the training were "SNOW MOTION" training on short carving skis.The project was held successfully thanks to great efforts from Prof. Heinz Pe...

AZERBAIJAN: International Day of the Disabled
(20 December 2007)

On occasion of the International Day of the Disabled on December 3, Special Olympics Azerbaijan in association with Inter Professional Sport Club, hosted a football tournament on 3-5 December 2007.  The event was held under the auspices of the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sport, the Inter Professio...

LEN Showcases Special Olympics Swimmers
(20 December 2007)

On occasion of the European Swimming Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, LEN (the European swimming federation) invited eight male and six female Special Olympics swimmers to take part in two demonstration short pool races on 14 December 2007.  The demonstration was broadcasted on Eurosport TV the day prior to Championship finals.  S...

ROMANIA: Olympians Honor Special Olympics Athletes
(11 December 2007)

On 5 December, Special Olympics Romania athletes who competed at the World Games in Shanghai were honored by Romanian Olympic medalists and sports celebrities in Bucharest.  The House of Champions Foundation organized the gala event.  Sports stars, among them Olympics Gold medalists, who were part of the congratulatory ceremony, included:...

FRANCE: Basketball Federation Supports Special Olympics
(11 December 2007)

France hosted 20 tournaments throughout the country during this year's Special Olympics Basketball Week.  More than 180 teams, or 1,200 to 1,300 players participated.  All tournaments included clinics at which players had the opportunity to test their individual skills.Each team received 1 ballon of Basket and each pla...

LUXEMBOURG: Minister and Olympic Commitee Honour Delegation
(8 December 2007)

Sports Minister Jeannot Krecké and Marc Theisen, President of the National Olympic Commitee (COSL) invited the whole delegation participating on the World Games of Shanghai in a sympatic reception. Proud of the result of the 27 athletes (everybody won a medal in China), both confirmed a subtantial aid in the futur for the activities of Speci...

Football Federation Support in ROMANIA
(7 December 2007)

This year the Romanian Football Federation and Special Olympics Romania partnered to promote football players with intellectual disabilities. During the qualifying games for European Championships, Special Olympics footballers joined professional players on the pitch during prior to kick-off.  In November a second project was started in partne...

International Day of the Disabled
(3 December 2007)

Special Olympics athletes set example as model employees as International Day of Disabled Persons focuses on employmentThe annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons, 3 December, aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.  I...

Health Screening Changes Life of Athlete from TURKEY
(28 November 2007)

Garip Olcas, 12, is a passionate table tennis player from Special Olympics Turkey.  His participation in the Special Olympics World Summer Games this year was his first travel abroad and his first time on an airplane.  Between competitions, Olcas also took Healthy Athletes screening tests.  Several Turkish clinici...

2007 European Basketball Week
(27 November 2007)

FIBA Europe has again endorsed this Special Olympics European Basketball Week, which is the flagship event of the FIBA Europe and Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia partnership. The relationship was established in May 2004 with the aim of developing basketball for players with intellectual disabilities. Since 2004, the number of Special Olympics playe...

LUXEMBOURG: FLBB Supports Basketball Week
(25 November 2007)

On occasion of the Special Olympics European Basketball Week, Special Olympics Luxembourg held its fourth VIP Game.  FLBB, the Luxembourg Basketball Federation, is privileged partner for the event.  After a small practice, national coach Herrmann Paar, former president Romain Haas and the Special Olympics&nbs...

LUXEMBOURG Says Chie Chie Shanghai!
(18 November 2007)

The Special Olympics slogan ("A World of Winners") remains the best summary for the World Games.  A total of 50 individuals from Special Olympics Luxembourg (27 athletes and partners, family members and a soccer referee say "Chie Chie (thank you)" to Shanghai and to the Community of Yu Yuan for thei...

IRELAND: President Hosts Reception for Athletes
(16 November 2007)

Irish President Mary McAleese and her husband Dr. Martin McAleese hosted a reception at Aras an Uachtarain (Presidential Residence) in Dublin an Uachtarain Dublin on 8 November for TEAM Ireland athletes and coaches who recently returned from the Special Olympics World Summer Games.  The event was held to recognize the achievements of Team...

UEFA Renew Partnership with SOEE
(16 November 2007)

In a recent letter to SOEE Managing Director, Mike Smith, the General Secretary of UEFA, David Taylor, confirmed UEFA’s extension of its football development partnership with SOEE.  The partnership, part of UEFA’s established corporate social responsibility commitment, will provide funding for further development of Special Olympic...

GREECE: President receives Special Olympics flag
(15 November 2007)

On November 14, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Dr. Karolos Papoulias, was presented with the Special Olympics flag that was passed to Special Olympics Hellas during Closing Ceremonies of the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China.  The next Summer Games, in 2011, will be held in Athens, Greece.  Special Olympics H...

UZBEKISTAN: UNICEF Welcomes Athlete Presenter
(8 November 2007)

A Special Olympics Uzbekistan athlete and her mother were invited to address participants at the UNICEF Mid-Term Review Conference in Tashkent.  The conference, held on 25 October, was organized by UNICEF and the Government of Uzbekistan. During the conference, current programs of cooperation between the government and UNICEF were presented, i...

LEN and Special Olympics
(7 November 2007)

On 29 September, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE) Managing Director, Mike Smith, made a presentation to the Annual General Meeting of the European Swimming Federation (LEN).  The presentation focused on the great progress that Special Olympics swimming has made since the first Special Olympics World Games in Chicago, USA, in 1968.  ...

RUSSIA: Tennis Players receive Tips from the Best
(7 November 2007)

Twenty Special Olympics athletes had the chance to participate in a tennis master class led by one of Russia’s top players, Mikhail Youzhny, on 3 October in Moscow.  The event took place at the Ronald McDonald center as part of the social program of the Kremlin Cup international tennis tournament.  Special Olympics tennis players sp...

Ongoing Growth for Judo
(25 October 2007)

First introduced on the initiative of programs in Europe/Eurasia, judo competitions gathered 54 athletes from 9 countries (all from Europe) at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. This year, participation had almost tripled to 143 athletes from 20 countries (European coutries and China). The tournament was organized at the best possible ve...

POLAND: Four Million TV Viewers for Special Olympics Announcement
(25 October 2007)

On October 17, 2007, national football teams from Poland and Hungary competed against each others in Lodz, Poland. Both Polish and Hungarian Football Federations agreed to promote Special Olympics at this event viewed live on Polish TV by about four million spectators and followed by many more on national radio. Players from bot...

European Kayaking Outreach
(24 October 2007)

Kayaking became a Special Olympics demonstration sports following the initative of some programs in Europe/Eurasia. In Shanghai, experts, referees and volunteers were trained by Roza Banasik, Kayaking Technical Delegate from Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, which should result in dramatical expansion of Special Olympics Kayaking in China, the faste...

"Best Ceremonies": Says UN Official
(22 October 2007)

United Nations official Adolf Ogi, the Special Adviser to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, said the organization of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai was superb. "This is the best opening ceremony I've seen," Ogi was quoted as saying by Shanghai Daily. "The show is v...

FIFA and Special Olympics
(18 October 2007)

Both FIFA (the International Association of Football Associations) and the ISPA (International Sports Press Association), reported on their websites the launch of the "Special Olympics Global Football" Initiative in Shanghai, China on October 1.Special Olympics and FIFA joined forces to announce the launch. This ongoing program sees Speci...

Wuerth Company: Promoting Special Olympics
(18 October 2007)

During the male football game between Germany and Czech last night, banners jointly promoting sponsor Wuerthand Special Olympics Germany were on display around the football pitch. Wuerth is one of the main sponsors of the qualifying games for Euro 2008. Wuerth banner will have exposure at all qualifying games. "Out of all Wuerth banners around...

Basketball Competitions With 328 Athletes from Europe/Eurasia
(17 October 2007)

A total of 328 athletes, including 94 ladies from 26 countries in Europe/Eurasia took part in Basketball competitions in the last couple of days. Bosse Stark from Special Olympics Sweden is both a basketball coach assistant and basketball player. During World Games, he competed as a player on his national team.Type "Bosse" or "Stark&...

TEAM Ireland Return to Heroes Welcome!
(17 October 2007)

TEAM Ireland received a rapturous welcome from family members, friends and supporters when they arrived in Dublin Airport last Friday evening. The 141 Athletes and their 55 coaches had just stepped off a gruelling 13 hour flight from Shanghai via London from the Special Olympics World Summer Games, but there was no sign of tiredness.  They wer...

Unprecedented Media Coverage
(12 October 2007)

The 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games started on October 2nd. A total of 119 journalists from 26 countries in Europe/Eurasia applied for official accreditation to the Games.Daily satelite feeds were made available for broadcasters to download.  So far a record 1,400 media agencies from over 120 countries have covered the event. Ove...

Glorious Returns to Everyone!
(12 October 2007)

After Spectacular Closing Ceremonies, delegations are now getting prepared for glorious returns to their respective countries.In total, there were 2,801 athletes and partners from Europe/Eurasia competing in 20 sports.  The largest delegations were Austria and Germany with over 200 athletes participating.  Special Olympics Kosov...

Watch Closing Ceremonies Live on www.cctv.com
(11 October 2007)

The Closing Ceremonies of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games will be broadcast live on www.cctv.com on October 11, 14:00 Brussels time.Over 30,000 people are expected to attend the hour-and-a-half long ceremony. High-tech equipment will help a mentally disabled girl "fly" to symbolize the athletes' dreams of reaching higher...

Nearly 19,000 Free Health Screenings Provided
(11 October 2007)

Over the past 9 days, over 800 volunteers provided nearly 19,000 free health screenings to athletes from 159 of 164 delegations at the World Games.Approximately 4,900 Special Olympics athletes, or 69 percent of athletes participating in the World Games, were screened at the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Village. The screenings, design...

Special Olympics Behind-the-Scenes
(10 October 2007)

Throughout the World Games, guests, officials, journalists, families and coaches alike were give the opportunity to experience a Special Olympics competition in a guided tour led by competition professionals. At select venues, they all were give the opportunity to experience what it takes to be a World Games athlete and how the Games...

Special Olympics Football IS Truly Global
(9 October 2007)

See the enthusiasm of football players! (video attachement below) Despite the heavy rains and stormy wheather in Shanghai, Special Olympics football players give their best on the pitch and show that Special Olympics Football IS truely global.Earlier this week, a ceremony marked the launch of the Special Olympics Global Football, with rep...

Video on Vodcast! UNICEF/Special Olympics partnership
(8 October 2007)

A UNICEF-Special Olympics partnership will promote the participation and empowerment of children with intellecutal disablities and their families through sports, initially in Bulgaria and Uzbekistan for Europe/Eurasia, but also Cambosia, China, El Salvador, Jamaica and Panama. The parnership will seek to build confidence, self-reliance and self-adv...

Video: Sports Highlights are on www.specialolympicslive.org
(8 October 2007)

Thousands of video clips and photos are available on specialolympicslive.org.  See videos from any of the Special Olympics athlete competing in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, watch videos and slideshows.  Share the excitement and "Be a Fan!" on specialolympicslive.org:Click here for a Sport Highlights video c...

Specialolympicslive.org: More than 300 Involved!
(8 October 2007)

Specialolympicslive.org is one of the largest documentary web projects ever attempted. More than 300 volunteers and a dedicated group of faculty and coaches have worked on this project for almost two years. The project grew out of the desire of Special Olympics Vice President Peter Wheeler to share the magic of the World Games with a world-wide aud...

Video: CNN Covers Special Olympics World Games
(7 October 2007)

Over 80,000 spectators attended Opening Ceremonies as China's largest city hosts 7,300 athletes from 164 countries and regions for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China.The Games will be the first major sports event for people with intellectual disabilities ever staged in China.  "China hopes the Games ...

Video: Watch Opening Ceremonies on specialolympicslive.org!
(7 October 2007)

"Judgin by the awe-inspiring display of traditional dance, music and pyrotechnics, Beijing will have a tough act to follow next year at the start of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games," says on October 2 a BBC News coverage of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai.The ceremonies began with an army of chinese drumme...

Global Leaders Attend Global Policy Summit
(5 October 2007)

Government, Health, NGOs, Sports, Academic and Business Leaders Issue a Call to Action to Improve the Well-being of Inidividuals with Intellectual Disabilities.Leaders representing 60 countries gathered in Shanghai, China today to attend the Special Olympics Global Policy Summit in Shanghai, China and further opportunities for people with inte...

Representing Europe/Eurasia
(5 October 2007)

Amongst over 2,5 million athletes competing in Special Olympics, 27% are female athletes, and athletes aged between 8 and 15 represent more than one third (36%) of the total population of Special Olympics athletes worldwide.  Kathlyn Garbin from Special Olympics Norway, 14 is one of them.  Despite her young age; she has a solid experience...

Heart Thumping Opening Ceremonies
(4 October 2007)

Opening Ceremony Reflects the Heart and Spirit of China The long-awaited Opening Ceremony of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games exploded with the heart-thumping rumble of hundreds of traditional Chinese drums, the blaze of fireworks and colorful, exquisite costumes resplendent of the country's ancient culture, emphasizing the first words ...

Yao Ming, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Collin Farrell Show Their Support
(3 October 2007)

Political figure and movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger and NBA basketball legend Yao Ming from China were amongst the celebrities who took part in spectacular opening ceremonies to mark the official opening of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China on Tuesday October 2. Irish actor Collinn Farrell was the master of ceremonie...

"Be a Fan" of Special Olympics Athletes Competing in Shanghai!
(1 October 2007)

The Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai (2-11 October 2007) will be the largest single sporting event in 2007. The enormity of the Games - 7,300 Special Olympics athletes, of which approximately 2,900 from Europe/Eurasia and their families; tens of thousands of coaches, volunteers and Chinese citizens; competitions in 25 Olympic-ty...

Torch Run Reaches Shanghai (25 September 2007)

The Special Olympics Flame of Hope reached Shanghai today, after travelling a distance of more than 35,000 kilometers (22,000 miles) from Athens to Shanghai.  It spread the message of Special Olympics and highlighted the abilities of athletes to a combined population of 68.4 million people along the route and millions more on television i...

Shimon Peres Sees ISRAEL Delegation Off
(25 September 2007)

Shimon Peres, Israel's former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Nobel Peace Prize, we present to see the national delegation of Special Olympics Israel off, before their departure to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games today.Peres wishes Special Olympics athletes competing in the World Games the very best and salutes the efforts of Special O...

International Conference in KAZAKHSTAN
(14 September 2007)

The place and role of handicapped people is one of the most critical questions faced by NGO’s, Families and others in most East European countries.On September 10, 2007, over 50 participants took part in the „ Government Social Policy in Socialization of Next Generation” international conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan.&nb...

ICELAND: Football Federation Gets Involved with Special Olympics
(13 September 2007)

The Icelandic Football Federation and Special Olympics Iceland are embarking on new partnership.  In May, June and September, athletes with disabilities participated in one day football camps.  On September 9, professional football players Hermann Hreidarsson and Gretar Rafn Steinsson came to meet them, one day after playing the nati...

On the Pitch with the European Parliament and European Commission
(11 September 2007)

On 11 September 2007, Special Olympics Europe/ Eurasia organized its third annual football tournament at the European Parliament to celebrate how sports can improve the public's understanding of the gifts and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities.  Special Olympics athletes were joined on the pitch by a selection of representative...

BELGIUM: Football Federation Support new Special Olympics League
(10 September 2007)

Special Olympics Belgium is increasing its efforts to expand formal Special Olympics football training and competition at local level.  Through a partnership between Special Olympics Belgium, the Belgian Football Federation, and the Province of Limburg, more than 250 Special Olympics players will no have the opportunity to compete every week i...

UEFA Donation in BELGIUM
(5 September 2007)

UEFA and Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia presented Special Olympics Belgium a 3,000 Euro check on August 24, 2007, for their participation in the upcoming Special Olympics World Summer Game in Shanghai.The check donation took place at the Belgium Royal Museum of Fine Arts and History where UEFA is hosting the Exhibition "50 Years of Footb...

CYPRUS: Chinese Embassy Welcomes Delegation
(3 September 2007)

Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus, Mr. Zhao Yali, hosted a reception for the SO Cyprus delegation to the upcoming Special Olympic World Summer Games in Shanghai (02-11 October 2007).The reception was held at the Chinese embassy in Nicosia, on Tuesday 28th of August 2007.   Amongst attendees were Mrs. Fotini Papadopoulou, First L...

UKRAINE Hosts 8th Swimming Tournament
(31 August 2007)

On August 20-24, 2007, approximately 100 swimmers from Ukraine and Moldova participated in Special Olympics Ukraine 8th Swimming Tournament, in Odessa, Ukraine. Seven Special Olympics Regions in Ukraine and one team from Moldova participated.  "As we work to develop, Special Olympics Ukraine focuses on establishing solid infrast...

35 days to World Games!
(27 August 2007)

In 35 days, Special Olympics athletes from around the world will march in Opening Ceremonies of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China.  With more than 2,900 Special Olympics athletes from Europe/Eurasia, our regional delegation will the the biggest to compete, from 2 – 11 October in 23 different Olympi...

Warsaw, POLAND: Government Pledges Full Support to 2010 Special Olympics European Games
(26 July 2007)

SOEE Managing Director, Mr. Michael Smith, was greeted in Warsaw by the Warsaw President, Mrs. Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz who pledged the city’s full support to creating the most exciting and best promoted SO European Games ever.  Mrs. Gronkiewicz-Waltz underlined the importance of catching up with other European countries in brin...

EUROPEAN UNION: White Paper on Sports and Special Olympics
(12 July 2007)

We have the pleasure to announce that on July 11, the European Commission adopted the White Paper on Sport. The White Paper is the result of extensive consultations by the European Commission over the past two years with sport organisations including Special Olympics, Member States and other stakeholders. This comprehensive initiative aims at provi...

"Support an Athlete" Campaign launched in UKRAINE
(11 July 2007)

Special Olympics Urkaine launched its ‘Support an Athlete’ campaign on July 3, 2007 on occasion of a reception jointly hosted with the Embassy of People’s Republic of China in Ukraine, to celebrate the upcoming 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. In his opening speech Mr Jou Lee, Extraordina...

Register today for the 2008 European Basketball Tournament!
(6 July 2007)

Delegations are invited to visit the "Calendar of Events" section of this website to find out more about the event.Pre-registrations should be sent to Special Olympics Turkey by August 31, 2007Photo: Courtesy of Special Olympics Romania

EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Unified Sports Included in Declaration
(5 July 2007)

Special Olympics was represented at the 2007 European Youth and Sport Forum (EYSF) held in Bonn, Germany on June 17 to 22. The Forum gathered 50 leaders under 30 years of age from 22 different countries to discuss: Diversity, Anti-Discrimination and Social Inclusion Through and in Sports.  Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia was represented b...

Kick Off Event for First Global TORCH RUN
(4 July 2007)

The "Flame of Hope" was lit in Athens, Greece on June 29, 2007.   This event marks the launch of a Global Law Enforcement Torch Run® to announce the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai. The lighting of the “Flame of Hope” officially launches the First Global Law Enforcement Torch Run. T...

Swimming Championships in GREAT BRITAIN
(3 July 2007)

Special Olympics Great Britain partners up to host a Swimming Championships.  Along with partner organizations "MENCAP" and "DSISO" (GB), Special Olympics will host the "Second British Short Course Swimming Championships & Festival of Swimming For People with Learning Disabilities". The event, t...

GERMANY: Chinese Embassy Hosts Reception
(2 July 2007)

Chinese embassies across Europe/Eurasia are opening their doors to receptions that generate awareness for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games and for national delegations. PHOTO: H.E. MA Canrong receiving a pin from Special Olympics Athlete and Global Messenger, Patrick Brehmer, Germany.  On June 26, H.E. MA Canrong, Chinese...

ATHLETECONNECT: 2007 World Games
(26 June 2007)

More than 2,800 athletes from Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia region will be going to the 2007 Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China.  This is a unique opportunity to make new connections between Special Olympics athletes and their local communities.AthleteConnect is an opportunity to use World Games participation to make new connect...

"SO Get Into It®" Team Athletics in ROMANIA
(26 June 2007)

New grounds were broken on June 13-17, 2007 with the hosting of an "SO Get Into It®" Team Athletics Invitational Competition in Bucharest, Romania.  "SO Get Into It®" is a Special Olympics awareness and educational program leading to interaction between youth with and without disabilities.  All 96 par...

From RUSSIA with Love!
(25 June 2007)

The biggest strenght of the Adult Rehabilitation Center in Armavir?...  People working there!As a mother and a leader Ms. Elena Kachareva, the Center Director, strives to find a language, which both residents and people deciding about their social well-being can understand.  Cultural activities play a tremendous role at the center, a...

KAZAKHSTAN: Athletes Honored at Chinese Embassy
(22 June 2007)

The Chinese Embassy to Kazakhstan opened its doors to reception generating awareness for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games and Delegation.On June 19, approximately 60 diplomatic, political, international non government organizations, and corporate circles in Astana, capital city of Kazakhstan, attended the reception.  &nbs...

TURKEY Hosts Torch Run Meeting
(3 June 2007)

Seventeen participants attended the Regional Law Enforcement Torch Run Meeting in Kumburgaz, Turkey (June 1-3). The meeting examined plans for regional Torch Run activities for the 2007 World Games and a plan to expand Torch Run networks in the region. The next major regional event will be the 2010 European Torch Run in Warsaw, Poland. The Torch Ru...

TURKEY hosts Regional Sports Conference
(3 June 2007)

The Special Olympics Regional Sports Conference was held in Silivri-Istanbul on May 30 to June 3, 2007.Some 80 National Sports Directors and Coordinators as well 16 computer experts from 40 countries took part in this even.The main topics of the Conference were "More local Special Olympics Competitions" and "Bette...

Athens, GREECE to Host 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games
(1 June 2007)

Special Olympics International announced today that Athens, Greece, will be the host city for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The decision came during the meeting of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors. The 2011 World Summer Games are expected to draw more than 7,000 athletes from nearly 170 countries, as well as ten...

Young Athlete Program News in ROMANIA
(31 May 2007)

On Saturday, May 26, Special Olympics Romania hosted a Young Athletes Forum in Bucharest where the Young Athletes program has been successfully implemented. Participants (children with and without intellectual disabilities, parents and therapists) came from all over Romania.Children were given the opportunity to show their abilities, be encouraged ...

Special Olympics UZBEKISTAN Organizes Second National Games
(31 May 2007)

A spectacular Opening Ceremonies kicks off the Games Three hundred and twenty Special Olympics athletes from all over Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Poland, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Afghanistan participated in the second Special Olympics Uzbekistan National Games from 11-18 May in Bukhara, located 500 km southw...

World Summer Games Promotion and Legacy
(29 May 2007)

About five months to go to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. Five months to help our athletes be the best prepared of any region. Five months to utilize this unique opportunity to promote Special Olympics across Europe/Eurasia. On our part, SOEE has been in touch with several European Sports Federations and the Europe...

Special Olympics: Linking Europe and AFRICA
(4 May 2007)

SPECIAL OLYMPICS AFRICA: EUROPEAN PARTNERS MEETINGIMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY18-19 April, 2007 - Dublin, Ireland Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia and Special Olympics Africa would like to thank Special Olympics Ireland, The Irish Government, the representatives from 10 organizations committed to development w...

Warsaw, POLAND to Host 2010 European Games
(30 April 2007)

Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia is delighted to announce that the 2010 Special Olympics European Games will be held in the city of Warsaw, Poland. After a comprehensive and competitive bidding process over the past year, the decision was made at the recent Europe/Eurasia Advisory Council Meeting in Brussels in March to award the Games to Special Ol...

CZECH REPUBLIC: Self-Advocacy in Action
(29 March 2007)

By Marcela KlicperovaDear Ladies and Gentleman!I just returned from the Congress of Inclusion Europe called “Europe in Action” where we discussed self advocacy and supported decision making.I do not like when people helps me with work which I manage by myself and I would like to tell you about what I can do by myself and who helps me wh...