World Briefs
Italian team F.C. Internazionale is promoting Special Olympics with its fans.
F.C. Internazionale, Special Olympics Global Team Ambassadors, Promote the Movement on their U.S. Tour
Over the past few days, Football (Soccer) greats, F.C. Internazionale lived up to their Special Olympics Team Ambassador role by promoting the global movement at a variety of events in Palo Alto and Los Angeles, California, USA. While in the United States for the World Football Challenge, Inter-Milan took the opportunity to continue to raise awareness and support for the Special Olympics Global Football initiative, a program which uses the sport of football, combined with participation in and support of Special Olympics, to build accepting and inclusive communities.
During their tour, the Inter-Milan team participated in four separate events to help raise awareness of the talents of people with intellectual disabilities, as well as spread the message of how the sport of football can serve as a global platform for uniting people of different backgrounds.
An Enormous Opportunity
“This is a really important opportunity for Special Olympics and the 3.1 million athletes in 170 countries around the world,” shared Bart Conner, Olympic Gold Medalist and Special Olympics International Board Director. “We are very excited about the enormous opportunity to grow in the sport of football throughout Special Olympics. Inter-Milan has embraced the concept of acceptance, tolerance and dignity – values that Special Olympics is all about.”
Starting in Palo Alto, on July 19, at the Inter-Milan vs. Club America Match, the team marched in with Special Olympics athletes. Those Special Olympics athletes also teamed up with EA Sports for a Special Olympics Unified Sports Football match during half time which showcased the skills of the athletes and demonstrating inclusion and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities. All participants received participation awards from Inter Board member Angelo Moratti who is also president of Special Olympics Italy and an International Board Director for Special Olympics.
In addition, on July 20, they appeared at two separate receptions in Beverly Hills and Pasadena to educate and encourage sports, entertainment, business and media leaders to join the Special Olympics movement in their quest to better the world through football.
Inter-Milan Will Involve its Fans
Inter-Milan became the first Team Ambassador to partner with Special Olympics in support of the Global Football initiative. As a Team Ambassador, Inter will involve its fans in Italy and around the world in supporting Special Olympics, as volunteers, coaches and donors.
“It is estimated that only 1 in 500 children with intellectual disability will be given the chance to play football due to being seen by their peers as being ‘different’ or ‘without ability,’” shared Moratti. “inter is committed to using its profile to help change this in Milan, Italy and around the world, and in doing so make a contribution to the general promotion of the values of human dignity and social inclusion that the world so badly needs.”
The Special Olympics Global Football initiative plans to bring football to a total of 500,000 players worldwide, to increase the quality of coaching our athletes receive, and to help our athletes build skills they can use on and off the field of play. All this, while building a fan base of footballers around the world who will become fans of Special Olympics.