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The Special Olympics Unity Cup Presented by Coca-Cola on July 3 in Cape Town, South Africa will feature teams of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities. 16 Special Olympics athletes from all corners of the world were selected to participate alongside an incredible roster of celebrities and football legends.  All the players are listed below.

Algeria

Athlete: Yacine Zabi, Hometown: Ain el Beniane Algiers, Algeria, Age: 19, Position: Center Half

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Australia

Athlete: Benjamin Haack, Hometown: Gilston, Queensland, Australia, Age: 27, Position: Defender

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Brazil

Athlete: Maicon Santana, Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil, Age: 19, Position: Middle Attacker

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Cameroon

Athlete: Guy Ruben Bitom Mankeuh, Hometown: Yaoundi, Cameroon, Age: 21, Position: Middle Attacker/Defender

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Cote D’Ivoire

Athlete: Mauba Boris Esaie Messan, Hometown: Anengourou, Cote D’Ivoire, Age: 21, Position: Midfielder

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Greece

Athlete: Manolis Tampakakis, Hometown: Athens, Greece, Age: 17, Position: Midfielder

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Japan

Athlete: Yusuke Tachibana, Hometown: Kyoto, Japan, Age: 18, Position: Forward/Midfielder

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Korea

Athlete: Bong Chun Kwon, Hometown: Mokpo, Jeonnan, Korea, Age: 27, Position: Midfielder

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Mexico

Athlete: Pedro Cecena Ruiz, Hometown: Nayant, Mexico, Age: 35, Position: Goalie

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New Zealand

Athlete: Mark Liggins, Hometown: Albany, North Shore City, New Zealand, Age 36, Position: Center Forward

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Nigeria

Athlete: Peter Okocha, Hometown: Ibuja, Nigeria, Age: 33, Position: Goalkeeper

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Serbia

Athlete: Dejan Radu, Hometown: Pancevo, Serbia, Age: 20, Position: Midfield 

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Slovenia

Athlete: Miran Brejc, Hometown: Ljubljana, Slovenia, Age: 27, Position: Forward 

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South Africa

Athlete: Arnold Bongane Ngqulunga, Hometown: Gauteng, South Africa, Age: 25, Position: Defender

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South Africa

Athlete: Philani Ngwane, Hometown: Durban, South Africa, Age: 20, Position: Midfielder

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U.S.A.

Athlete: Matthew Millett, Hometown: South Grafton, Massachusetts, USA, Age: 31, Position: Fullback

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CELEBRITY PARTNERS

Celebrities and global soccer legends will be playing in The Special Olympics Unity Cup Presented by Coca-Cola.

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Mattel Corporation sponsors the Young Athletes program worldwide. 
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Special Olympics Blog

A World Without Differences

Imagine a world where people actively encouraged and included other people no matter their skin color, personal preferences, or their mental or physical abilities. Wouldn’t our society be a better place?read more »

Posted on 2012-01-19 by Rebecca

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