Press Room
Latest Press Release
Empowering the Next Generation: Special Olympics Is Scaling Youth Leadership Globally
[Johannesburg, South Africa - 24 February 2026] Today, the Special Olympics Africa Regional Youth Leadership Summit kicked off in Johannesburg, bringing together youth with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to build leadership skills and strengthen youth-led change across schools and communities.
2 Min Read
Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Face Critical Mental Health Care Gaps, New Study Finds
[Washington, DC - 20 February 2026] Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are over nine times more likely to report a diagnosis of anxiety or depression and experience significantly higher mental health symptom burden, according to a new study published today in JAMA Network Open.
2 Min Read
24 Teams Announced to Compete in the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026
[Paris, France - 19 February 2026] On 19 February, more than 200 Special Olympics athletes, Unified partners (athletes without intellectual disabilities), and media convened at the City Hall in Paris, France for a landmark moment: the official unveiling of the 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams selected to compete in the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026.
4 Min Read
Special Olympics International Names Sven Albrecht Regional President and Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia
[Washington, DC, USA – 30 January 2026] Special Olympics International has named Sven Albrecht Regional President and Managing Director of its Europe Eurasia region, effective 1 April 2026.
2 Min Read
ACE and Special Olympics International Extend Partnership to Advance Inclusive Fitness Education
[San Diego, California, USA - January 29, 2026] The American Council on Exercise (ACE) and Special Olympics International have announced a two-year extension of their partnership to further promote inclusion and accessibility in fitness.
1 Min Read
FanSided Redraws the Playbook for Inclusion with Unified Super Bowl Week and Big Game Coverage
[Washington, DC, USA - January 28, 2026] For more than a decade, Special Olympics has claimed its place on Super Bowl Radio Row, bringing Special Olympics athletes alongside international celebrity supporters and partners to challenge perceptions and raise the standard for what true inclusion looks like.
3 Min Read
Our Global Reach
4,238,388
ATHLETES and UNIFIED PARTNERS
53,779
COMPETITIONS
777,670
VOLUNTEERS
366,978
COACHES
72,468
ATHLETE HEALTH SCREENINGS
20,160
Unified Schools
Special Olympics and Paralympics
Special Olympics, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee are complementary organizations, each one a testimony to the power of sport.
2 Min Read
Speakers Bureau
Thank you for your interest in requesting a speaker from Special Olympics. Special Olympics is a global movement creating a world of inclusion and community, where every single person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of their level of ability.
1 Min Read
Downloadable Photos
Special Olympics keeps a comprehensize and current catalog of downloadable photos on PhotoShelter.
2024 Special Olympics Overview
Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sport, every day around the world.
Press Contact
CHRISTY WEIR
Special Olympics International
Vice President, International Media Relations & Communications
+1 202-738-8511
Vice President, International Media Relations & Communications
+1 202-738-8511