Third Scientific Symposium for Special Olympics GERMANY

“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 “Sport and intellectual disability” included the conclusion of the UN convention on rights of people with disabilities and the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in sports. “After three years we witness a stronger network among scientists in the field of sports and intellectual disability”, said State Professor Manfred Wegner, a member of Special Olympics Germany Scientific Advisory Council. 

“The symposium highlighted the importance of scientific work in the field of sports for people with intellectual disability. It also showed that with Healthy Athletes, Special Olympics has developed a great program and an outstanding success story," commented Professor Gudrun Doll-Tepper from the Freie Universität Berlin, vice president of the German Olympic Sports Confederation and Special Adviser to the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE). 

The fourth Special Olympics Germany Scientific Symposium will take in conjunction with its next National Games in Bremen (18-19 June 2010).

Photo: Participants of the 2009 Special Olympics Germany Scientific Symposium.  Courtesy of Special Olympics Germany