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.
Special Olympics Unified 3x3 Basketball World Cup Opens with Powerful Celebration of Inclusion
[San Juan, Puerto Rico, 4 December 2025] The inaugural Special Olympics Unified 3x3 Basketball World Cup tipped off this evening with an inspiring Opening Ceremony in San Juan, uniting hundreds of athletes, dignitaries, performers and fans for an unforgettable celebration of sport, culture and inclusion.
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Puerto Rico Welcomes the World to the First-Ever Special Olympics Unified 3x3 Basketball World Cup
[San Juan, Puerto Rico - 4 December 2025] The wait is almost over. This week, Puerto Rico will make history as it welcomes basketball players from around the world to the first-ever Special Olympics Unified 3x3 Basketball World Cup, a global celebration of sport, inclusion, and equality, taking place December 5 – 7, 2025, at Distrito T-Mobile, San Juan.
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Paris to Host 3rd Edition of the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup 2026
[Paris, Washington DC - 4 November 2025] Special Olympics International and Special Olympics France have finalized the hosting agreement of the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup 2026.
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Nestlé Health Science becomes Global Partner to Special Olympics
[Lausanne, Switzerland - 7 November 2025] Nestlé Health Science (NHSc) has announced a $2 million USD multi-year partnership with Special Olympics. The partnership will focus on Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program (MATP), and the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® screening protocol.
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Nashville Selected as Host of 2034 Special Olympics USA Games
[Nashville, TN – 29 October 2025] Nashville will proudly serve as the host city for the 2034 Special Olympics USA Games. The bid committee and Special Olympics North America announced the selection and signed a letter of agreement during a ceremony at Bridgestone Arena.
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FIVB Supports Inaugural Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup in Poland
[Katowice, Poland – 14 October 2025] The first-ever Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup took place 5 – 8 October in Katowice, Poland. Sixteen international teams competed, with Slovakia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) taking the men’s/mixed and women’s crowns, respectively.
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Special Olympics and the Golisano Foundation Announce 2025 Global Golisano Health Leadership Award Honorees
[Rochester, NY – 3 October 2025] Last night, Special Olympics and the Golisano Foundation proudly announced the seven recipients of the 2025 Global Golisano Health Leadership Awards, the highest honor given from Special Olympics Health.
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Cleveland Officially Awarded 2030 Special Olympics USA Games
[Cleveland, OH – 24 September 2025] Cleveland has been officially declared the host city for the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games. The contract was signed today at a ceremony at Benesch Law in Key Tower, finalizing the agreement between leaders of the local 2030 Special Olympics USA Games Host Committee and Special Olympics North America.
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The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity Pledges US$11m to Special Olympics International to Expand Inclusive Education Globally
[Abu Dhabi, UAE – September 25, 2025] The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity has announced an US$11 million grant to the Abu Dhabi-based Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion in Education to significantly expand its Unified Champion Schools (UCS) initiative, a transformative program that advances social inclusion for youth with and without intellectual disabilities.
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Athletes at Inaugural Special Olympics European Union Day to Champion Inclusion at the Heart of Europe
[Brussels, Belgium – 22 September 2025] Marking one of the highlight events of the 10th anniversary of European Week of Sport, the very first Special Olympics European Union (SO EU) Day will bring together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities, EU leaders, and citizens for two days of sport, dialogue, and action.
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Special Olympics and Badminton World Federation Mark Milestone with Global Impact Report
[Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - September 19, 2025] Special Olympics (SOI) and the Badminton World Federation (BWF) unveiled the Special Olympics Badminton Impact Report 2020–2024 today at a celebration held courtside during the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Regional Badminton Competition in Bukit Kiara, Malaysia.
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Special Olympics Launches Global Health Report to Tackle Inequities faced by People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Landmark report “Focusing on the Invisible” urges health systems to take action and develop inclusive policies
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