Press Releases
Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports, every day around the world. Here's what's happening world wide.
Pope Leo XIV Welcomes Special Olympics Athletes and Leaders at the Vatican
Special Olympics Italy athletes and a Special Olympics International delegation met with His Holiness, celebrating the power of sport to build a more inclusive world.
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Special Olympics and Olympic Channel Services Join Forces to Promote Stories of Inclusion Through Sport
New Memorandum of Understanding will explore opportunities to bring Special Olympics athletes, competitions and stories to wider global audiences through the Olympic Channel Services platforms
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The Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion in Education Launches UCS Inclusion Academy to Equip 6,000 Educators and Bridge the Global Training Gap
[Washington, DC - 17 September 2026] The Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion in Education has launched the Unified Champion Schools® (UCS) Inclusion Academy, a global learning initiative to equip educators, coaches and school leaders with practical tools to create more inclusive classrooms, schools and sports settings.
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Building a healthier future together: Henry Schein and Special Olympics renew partnership through 2030
[Melville, NY (USA) – 18 August 2026] Access to quality healthcare can make a profound difference in a person’s life. Yet for many people with intellectual disabilities (ID), barriers to care remain a daily reality.
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Special Olympics and Topgolf Expand Inclusive Golf Opportunities Worldwide
[WASHINGTON, D.C. - 13 August 2026] Today, Special Olympics and Topgolf announced an expanded three-year, $1.5 million commitment to grow inclusive golf opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities worldwide.
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Special Olympics to “Light Up” the Globe to Celebrate Unity and Inclusion
[WASHINGTON, D.C., July 20, 2026] Special Olympics announced today that more than 40 iconic buildings and landmarks around the world will turn RED in a worldwide display of unity, launching the organization’s Global Week of Inclusion event (July 20 – 26, 2026).
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Asunción, Paraguay Named as the Next Host of the Unified Football World Cup
As one historic Unified Football World Cup comes to a close, the journey to the next is just beginning.
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Special Olympics Launches Initiative Connecting Athletes to Research and Evaluation Opportunities
[Minneapolis, Minnesota, 20 June 2026] Today, Special Olympics announced the launch of SO-Link—an initiative that connects Special Olympics athletes with opportunities to participate in Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved research and evaluation projects relevant to their health.
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Is AI Fair? New Evidence Suggests Bias Against People with Intellectual Disabilities Is Built In
Peer-reviewed study is the first of its kind led and published by Special Olympics, revealing AI systems are learning stereotypes and repeating them at scale for one of the most marginalized populations in the world
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The 500-Day Countdown Begins for Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027
[Santiago, Chile – 9 June 2026] Special Olympics Chile athletes and Unified partners, national authorities, representatives from partner organizations, and event ambassadors celebrate the 500-day countdown to Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027, where people with and without intellectual disabilities compete on the same team.
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Special Olympics and Young 9 Foundation Partner to Advance Inclusive Sports
[May 21, 2026] Special Olympics and the Young 9 Foundation, founded by Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, have teamed up to expand inclusive sports programming.
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The Coca-Cola Company Becomes Official Partner of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Switzerland 2029
[Chur, Switzerland – 18 May 2026] The Special Olympics World Winter Games Switzerland 2029 continue to gain strong international momentum: The Coca-Cola Company has been confirmed as an Official Partner of the Games, further strengthening one of the most impactful partnerships in the history of inclusive sport.
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