United Airlines and Special Olympics International today announced the expansion of their relationship globally, celebrating in their shared vision to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. The announcement is the next evolution in United’s relationship with Special Olympics that represents a continued effort to break down barriers and further build on the organization’s remarkable legacy of inclusion by engaging the airline’s employees around the world.
“We are honored to evolve our relationship with Special Olympics, an organization that embodies United’s spirit of inclusion and connecting the world,” said Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer at United Airlines. “Special Olympics has always been near and dear to many United employees in many of the cities we serve.”
As part of the relationship, United will implement new employee training scenarios to make traveling a positive experience for individuals with intellectual disabilities. By the end of 2018, more than 60,000 United frontline employees will participate in new training modules that reflect Special Olympics’ insights as the airline takes steps to lead in inclusion.
“At Special Olympics we believe everyone has a role to play in ensuring inclusion” said Timothy Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics International. “Expanding our relationship with United will help provide a platform to drive inclusion throughout its network aiding us in our efforts to create a more inclusive world.”
Through this commitment, United will also support Special Olympics 50th Anniversary celebrations in Chicago and the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle. In other parts of the US, United will be represented at Special Olympics events where customers and employees live and work including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Houston, Chicago, Virginia, New York and New Jersey.
About United
United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 4,500 flights a day to 338 airports across five continents. In 2017, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 147 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates 743 mainline aircraft and the airline's United Express carriers operate 478 regional aircraft. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol "UAL".
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education and leadership programs every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1968, and celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 5 million athletes and Unified partners in more than 170 countries. With the support of more than 1 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and over 108,000 games and competitions throughout the year. Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including the Christmas Records Trust, the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics, The Coca-Cola Company, United Airlines, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, Microsoft, Lions Clubs International, Bank of America, Essilor Vision Foundation, the Golisano Foundation, Safilo Group, and TOYOTA. Click here for a full list of partners. Engage with us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and our blog on Medium.