“We have to focus on the invisible—the invisible challenges to health services and invisible people, like me.”| In the News
From October 1-5, 2025, Special Olympics Middle East & North Africa (SOMENA) hosted the first-ever Continental MATP Coach Training Seminar and Family Health Forum in Abu Dhabi. Held at the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination (ZHO), this groundbreaking week welcomed delegations from 11 MENA programs, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Morocco, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Libya, Bahrain, and the UAE along with 6 Africa programs, including South Africa, Senegal, Madagascar, Kenya...| In the News
When Melony Salla, a Special Olympics Indiana athlete, walks into a doctor’s office, she wants to be treated like what she is, the expert on her own body. But for much of her life, that wasn’t the case. Too often, doctors directed questions to her mom, even though Melony was the one experiencing the symptoms. “I live in this body, not my caregiver,” she said. “I want to have the voice in it.” That frustration turned into motivation when Melony joined Special Olympics Indiana’s A...| In the News
At 18 years old, Lê Trọng Nguyên—known as Austin—lives with autism in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The only child in his family, Austin has always been surrounded by love at home, but school life was often a different story.| In the News
The Special Olympics Asia Pacific Badminton Competition recently wrapped up, with 80 badminton players, including 63 athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities and 17 unified partners.| In the News
When Nikilani Rojas first learned she had been chosen to attend the Special Olympics North America (SONA) Conference, she was at baseball practice. “I looked at my email and saw that I got in,” she recalled with a smile. “It was very exciting.”| In the News
The inaugural Special Olympics European Union (EU) Day, a flagship event of the European Week of Sport, saw almost 200 athletes, coaches and staff take Brussels by storm as they raised their voices at the European Parliament and the European Commission on 24 and 25 September.| In the News
The following is an excerpt from the Euronews article, “Sport, a lever for inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities” highlighting the participation of Special Olympics athletes, staff and leadership at the inaugural Special Olympics European Union Day on 24 and 25 September 2025 during…| SpecialOlympics.org
The inaugural Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup will see 8 women’s and 8 men’s/mixed teams competing for the title.| In the News
For as long as he can remember, Sangjin Kim loved football. Growing up in Korea, much of his free time was spent on the pitch. But in 2022, his passion for the sport took on a new meaning when he joined Tove FC, a football club for athletes with intellectual disabilities. That decision marked the beginning of his journey as a Unified partner and, eventually, as a leader within Special Olympics.| In the News
The athletes competing at the Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup in Katowice this October can expect to enjoy elite standard post-competition facilities with dedicated Recovery Rooms developed and supported by Toyota Motor Europe.| In the News
The following is an article by FanSided, Christy Sovereign is leading the charge for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, written by Daren Jenkins who interviewed Christy Sovereign, the CEO of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games on her involvement with Special Olympics and the preparation of the Games.| In the News
Families have always been central to the Special Olympics movement, yet their voices have often been underrepresented in organizational decisions. That changed in early 2024 with the launch of the Global Family Leadership Council, a unified platform designed to give families a meaningful role in…| SpecialOlympics.org
Presented by: For eight long years, the Anderson family prayed for children. When they learned they were expecting twins, a boy and a girl, they were overjoyed. Luke and Jaycie arrived together, just a minute apart, but their paths unfolded differently.| SpecialOlympics.org
200 athletes from around the world will compete in this historic event.| SpecialOlympics.org
The Special Olympics community is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of fashion designer Giorgio Armani. He understood the important intersection of the fashion and sport worlds and used the power of his brand to advocate for inclusion on behalf of the Special Olympics movement.| SpecialOlympics.org
The Special Olympics Unified 3x3 Basketball World Cup Draw Ceremony was held today in San Juan, Puerto Rico officially marking the start of the World Cup and setting the stage for what teams, spectators, families, and basketball fans around the world can expect for gameplay come 5 – 7 December.| SpecialOlympics.org
As one of the World’s leading football organizations for people with and without intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics is proud to become a member of the United Nations Football For The Goals initiative.| SpecialOlympics.org
When Fabricio first walked through the doors of an English institute in Mendoza, Argentina, he was searching for one thing: a way to improve his language skills. He never imagined that the scholarship he received, one that required community service, would ignite a life-changing journey through…| SpecialOlympics.org
For the first time ever, Special Olympics athletes are featured on a Formula 1 racecar, part of the Visibility Drives Change initiative powered by TeamViewer, an official partner of Formula 1. This groundbreaking milestone celebrates these athletes’ talent, determination, and global impact.| SpecialOlympics.org
Once denied the chance to grow academically and personally, Alvaro found in Special Olympics a door that had long been closed to him.| SpecialOlympics.org
We’re excited to announce that media registration for the Unified Volleyball World Cup Poland 2025 is officially open! Members of the press and media professionals are invited to apply for accreditation to cover this global event.| SpecialOlympics.org
In celebration of International Youth Day, Special Olympics is proud to announce the newly selected 2025 – 2027 Global Youth Leadership Council (GYLC)—a diverse and dynamic group of 16 youth leaders, both with and without intellectual disabilities. These leaders represent 8 Special Olympics…| SpecialOlympics.org
Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 Kick Off with Heartfelt Opening Ceremony| SpecialOlympics.org
