Special Olympics: Football Sport Center

Football Sport Center

Football (Americans call it soccer) is possibly the world's most popular team sport. It's also Special Olympics' most popular sport. This page draws together football-related information for all of Special Olympics, including news, stories, calendar events and competition results.

Stories Events Games

Former South African National Football Team captain, Lucas Radebe, makes a play for the ball in the 2010 Unity Cup. Pros and Special Olympics athletes made up teams that united people with and without intellectual disabilities.

Played in just about every country, the sport's success is due to the fact that it can be played by boys, girls, men and women of just about any physical build and ability. Football requires little in the way of specialized equipment and is organized using simple, intuitive rules.

It's so fundamental to the future of Special Olympics' growth plans that it is the focus of our Global Football initiative.

Football is perfect for Special Olympics Unified Sports, in which people with and without intellectual disabilities play on the same teams. In 2010, Special Olympics held its Unity Cup in connection with the World Cup.

The coming years will see more exciting global and regional football events for Special Olympics.

Football Coaching Guide

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Football News and Stories

June 11, 2013 | Europe Eurasia: Ireland

Dundrum FC secure Ireland's National Football Cup

By Elizabeth Lynch

Special Olympics Ireland's National Football Cup took place on Saturday 11th May 2013 in Malahide United Football Club, Dublin. After a very close contest played in difficult conditions, Dundrum eventually pulled away to win.View Story ▼Special Olympics Ireland's National Football Cup took place on Saturday 11th May 2013 in Malahide United Football Club, Dublin. Dundrum FC and Sporting Fingal contested the 11-a-side football Cup Final. After a very close contest played in difficult conditions, Dundrum eventually pulled away to beat Sporting Fingal on a score line of 4-2. Dundrum Captain Shaun Kavanagh received the Cup from Malahide United Chairperson Don Butler. The Player of the Match award was presented to Barry Banahan from Dundrum FC. Having recently won the 11-a-side Division One Football League, victory in the cup made it a double for Dundrum FC. The National Cup Competition is run on a knock out basis. Eight teams from throughout the country participated in the competition, and for both Dundrum and Sporting Fingal it was a first final appearance. Thanks to FAI CEO John Delaney who came along to greet the teams before the match and Malahide United for use of their facilities for the event.

June 11, 2013 | Europe Eurasia: Ireland

Bray Lakers Step up to the Plate!

By Elizabeth Lynch

Special Olympics Ireland's National Football Plate took place on Saturday 25th May 2013 at the AUL complex in Clonshaugh, Dublin. It was a closely fought contest!View Story ▼Special Olympics Ireland's National Football Plate took place on Saturday 25th May 2013 at the AUL complex in Clonshaugh, Dublin. Bray Lakers and Limerick FC contested the 11-a-side football Plate Final. Played in fantastic conditions, it was an extremely closely fought contest which required extra time to separate the teams. Bray Lakers scored from a corner kick in the second half of extra time, and held on valiantly to win on a scoreline of 2-1. Robert Byrne from Bray Lakers was awarded the Player of the match. The Plate and medals were presented to both teams by Special Olympics Ireland CEO Matt English after the game. The National Football Plate was organized to celebrate Special Olympics 2013 European Football Week.

June 11, 2013 | Europe Eurasia: Kazakhstan

SO Kazakhstan 'Creating Inclusive Communities for Children with Intellectual Disabilities'

By Marie Merritt

In the eastern part of Kazakhstan, in the town of Semey, Special Olympics Unified Sports® experienced another first this week, a seven-a-side football competition at Semey Regular School No. 9.View Story ▼In the eastern part of Kazakhstan, in the town of Semey, Special Olympics Unified Sports® experienced another first this week. Thanks to the support of UNICEF Kazakhstan, Special Olympics Kazakhstan hosted a first-ever 7-a-side football competition at Semey Regular School No. 9. The inclusive sports program is part of a joint initiative between Special Olympics Kazakhstan and UNICEF to foster inclusive development in the eastern portions of the country. Six teams, approximately 50 athletes and Unified partners, took to the field for their first competition. The project aligns with UNICEF's State of the World's Children report, citing the need for increased programming for children with disabilities, and the powerful role that sport can play in breaking down barriers and forging social inclusion. Special Olympics Unified Sports® is an inclusive sports program combining an equal number of Special Olympics athletes and partners on teams, promoting social inclusion through shared sport training and competition.

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Upcoming Events

Date	Event	Location
July 09, 2013	State Cycling & Flag Football Finals This event offers a wide variety of opportunities to the media. Special Olympics Michigan athletes, volunteers and coaches will be available for interviews and photographs. Approximately 200 athletes, coaches, chaperones and volunteers will participate in the State Cycling Finals. There will be 170 cyclists and 20 unified partners competing. Bike inspections begin at 7:30 a.m. For more information More Details Kim Purdy Email:purdy1kr@cmich.edu Phone:(989) 954-5112View More	Chrysler Proving Grounds 3700 S Mi State Road 52 Chelsea, Michigan UNITED STATES
July 12, 2013	Soccer Competition Join us at Estadio Charlaix in San Salvador, El Salvador on 12 June from 8am-1pm for an exciting day of soccer competition. Special Olympics athletes will show their skill on the pitch while competing on the field. Please contact Sandra Uceda (contact info below) for event details. For more information Sandra Uceda Email:suceda.g@gmail.comView More	Estadio CharlaixSan Salvador EL SALVADOR
Jul 14 - 18 2013	Kim Kallstrom Trophy (Football/Soccer) The Kim Källström Trophy is a cooperation between Gothia Cup, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, Special Olympics Sweden and of course main sponsor Swedish national player Kim Källström. The second edition of Kim Källström Trophy was held during 2012 with a lot of positive feedback from the 27 participating teams. Our goal for 2013 is to increase the number of participating teams to 30, invite more international teams and to increase the number of girls participating in the tournament. For more information More Details Anna Holmberg Email:info@gothiacup.se Phone:+46 (0) 31-50 67 80View More	Gothia Cup, Heden Center Box 22052400 72 Göteborg SWEDEN
August 07, 2013	Womens 5-a-side Football Competition Come cheer on and support our Special Olympics athletes on 7 August for an exciting day of Womens 5-a-side football competition in Witbank, South Africa. Please contact Mr. Wanga Manyala (contact info below) for event details. For more information Mr. Wanga Manyala Email:wanga@specialolympics.org.zaView More	Witbank, Mpulunga SOUTH AFRICA
Aug 28 - Sep 1 2013	Great Britain Summer Games The 9th National Summer Games will be held in the city of Bath from 28 August to 01 September. Over 1,700 athletes will be competing in athletics, badminton, bocce, bowls (short mat carpet bowls), football, golf, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, table tennis, ten pin bowling, tennis and swimming. For more information More DetailsView More	University of Bath Bath, Claverton Down UNITED KINGDOM
Oct 5 - 9 2013	North Africa Football Unified Cup 11-a-side Join Special Olympics in the Middle East - North Africa region for a Unified Sports soccer match that will bring together Special Olympics athletes (people with intellectual disabilities) and Unified Partners (people without intellectual disabilities) to play as teammates from all over the region to promote acceptance and inclusion. For more informationView More	Cairo EGYPT
Oct 30 - Nov 12 2013	Unified Football Competition Come cheer on and support our Special Olympics athletes on 30 October - 12 November for a Unified football competition in Witbank, South Africa. Unified Sports promotes social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences by joining people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. Please contact Mr. Wanga Manyala (contact info below) for event details. For more information Mr Wanga Manyala Email:wanga@specialolympics.org.zaView More	Witbank, Mpumalanga SOUTH AFRICA
Nov 2 - 3 2013	Fall Championships Thousands of athletes, coaches, families and volunteers come together for a weekend of memorable fun during the annual Fall Championships in Virginia Beach. Athletes wrap up the fall sports season as they go for the gold in roller skating, bowling, volleyball, soccer, bocce and golf. Don’t-miss-moments include a magical opening ceremony, followed by an evening of music and games at the Victory Dance and Olympic Festival. And thanks to our Volunteer to Cheer initiative, this event continues to grow in size and popularity! Come Be a Fan! Fall Championships, one of Special Olympics Virginia's seven state-level competitions, has been in Virginia Beach since 1998; prior to that, the event was held in Roanoke. For more information More DetailsView More	Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, Virginia UNITED STATES
Nov 16 - 18 2013	Torneo Nacional de Atletismo - Mendoza 2013 This will be the Special Olympics Argentina Athletics National Games where 120 athletes from all over the country will take part. All of the events will take place at the Malvinas Argentinas Stadium which located at the newly inaugurated provincial track. This stadium and it's surrounding complexes hosted the South American Games in 2012. For more information More Details Claudio Jerez Email:eventos@olimpiadaespecial.org.ar Phone:(+54-11) 4703-2998View More	Mendoza Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Parque General San Martín Mendoza, Mendoza ARGENTINA
Jun 13 - 21 2014	2014 USA National Games The USA National Games be centered in and around Princeton and the Greater Mercer County area. Venues will include Princeton University, Rider University, The College of New Jersey, and Mercer County Park. The New Jersey Devils have offered The Prudential Center as the venue for the Opening Ceremonies. The National Games will feature nearly 3,500 athletes competing in 14 Olympic-style sports, with the support of 1,000 coaches, 8,000 volunteers and an estimated 50,000 family, friends and spectators. Non-competitive special events will include the Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run™ that will symbolize the start of the competition and Healthy Athletes, a place where the athletes can get vital health screenings. Youth and education events will also be held in conjunction with the Games as young leaders rally around making change for the better of the Special Olympics movement and promoting acceptance of those with intellectual disabilities. For more information More Details Greg Epperson Email:gepperson@specialolympics.org Phone:919-785-0700View More	Several Locations - New Jersey Princeton, New Jersey UNITED STATES
Sep 9 - 21 2014	2014 Special Olympics European/Eurasian Summer Games In September 2014 more than 2,000 athletes from 58 countries will come to Antwerp, Belgium for the 2014 Special Olympics European/Eurasian Summer Games and enjoy 13 days full of joy and friendship. The athletes will compete in 11 sports and be invited to join 5 supporting programs. For more information More Details Special Olympics European Games 2014 Email:info@so2014.com Phone:+32 3 220 25 00View More	Various locations, AntwerpAntwerp BELGIUM
Jul 24 - Aug 2 2015	World Summer Games Los Angeles 2015 In July of 2014 more than 7,000 athletes from 170 countries will come to Los Angeles, California for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games and enjoy 10 days full of joy, friendship and competition. Athletes will compete in 22 sports. The event expects to attract 500,000 spectators and 30,000 volunteers and 3,000 coaches. For more information More Details World Summer Games Los Angeles 2015 Email:info@la2015.org Phone:213-892-6018View More	Various Locations, Los Angeles Los Angeles , California UNITED STATES

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Football/Soccer Competitions

2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Athens, Greece, was the home of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. That year, it was the world’s largest sporting event for athletes with intellectual disabilities. See results by athlete, delegation and bib number.

See the Results

Related Coaching Resources

How to Get Involved in Special Olympics

Special Olympics sports training, coaching and competitions go on in more than 170 countries around the world. You can get involved by getting in touch with the closest Special Olympics office.

Special Olympics near you»

Made Possible by The Annenberg Foundation

The Special Olympics movement is profoundly grateful for the support of the Annenberg Foundation which has underwritten the production of the coaches’ guides and resources, supporting our global goals for coaches’ excellence.

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