Berlin, June 25, 2023 – Everyone agreed that the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 was a groundbreaking event. Expectations were not only met but also clearly exceeded. Around 330,000 people attended the World Games live. Many others watched on television and through other media. The athletes were completely thrilled and thoroughly enjoyed the great atmosphere at the eight competition venues in and around Berlin.
This morning at the closing press conference for the World Games, the speaker panel shared their excitement in their remarks about their experiences during the Games:
“I feel very humbled to be in this city. The city of Berlin has welcomed us,” said Hanna Joy Atkinson, Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger. “This was my first World Games ever and I had the chance to do so many things as an athlete leader. I don’t want it to end! The mascot was ‘Unity’—uniting countries everywhere and Berlin knocked it out of the park and the next country hosting should do that too!”
German open water swimmer Leo Heckel, who won two silver medals, was also quite enthusiastic. “I thought the World Games were pretty great,” he said. “And I was successful, too—with two silver medals. My highlight was the unified race with my partner Adrian. We lost to the English—but with honor. And silver is nothing to sneeze at.”
“These Games will be known as the ‘Happy Games,’ for years to come—everyone has come together over these last 9 days to spread the message of inclusion! Berlin has torn down the walls of division and exclusion and has built bridges of inclusion through the power of sport at these Games. We can celebrate so many firsts—48% of female athletes and Unified partners competing in these Games, more signings with international sports federations than ever before, we held the largest youth gathering in Special Olympics history bringing together over 100 youth leaders from around the world, the first ever female Chair of the Global Athlete Congress was elected by her peers and will serve on the Special Olympics Board of Directors, and in terms of our Healthy Athletes programming, we had 98% of our delegations attend screenings. We are truly #Unbeatable Together!”
Juliane Seifert, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of the Interior, was also highly impressed. “Special Olympics World Games were a complete success because they were a double-whammy for inclusion. Over the past nine days, the athletes have shown us how inclusion works. They have impressed us with their dedication and enthusiasm. It has become clearer to all of us what the athletes had to overcome every day to get to where they are now. World Games have given us the courage to work even harder towards an inclusive society. The Games have shown that inclusion works and can benefit society as a whole. Special Olympics brought together many thousands of people with and without disabilities in the competitions and the fantastic social program. That should be incentive for all of us to do better here,” said Seifert. “On behalf of the German government, I would like to thank everyone who played their part in the success of the largest inclusive sports event in Germany to date: the athletes, the many thousands of volunteers, the organizing committee, the many helpers behind the scenes, and everyone who is committed to an inclusive society. Special Olympics have once again shown that Germany is a sporting nation. The Games have already helped to make major sporting events in Germany even more inclusive. For example, there will also be ‘volunteer tandems’ at next year’s European soccer championships, where volunteers with and without disabilities will lend a hand.”
Over the nine days of the competition, it became clear how cheerful, lively, and colorful the German capital is. And how enthusiastic and open Berliners are. They not only embraced the World Games but supported it at every turn. Nicola Böcker-Giannini, State Secretary of Interior and Sports, was proud of her city: “The pictures, the experiences, and the people—it all made me want to do more. I am pleased that the people of Berlin appreciated this and attended the competitions and events. They were quite fortunate to be able to enjoy these World Games.”
Sven Albrecht, head of the organizing committee and federal managing director of Special Olympics Germany (SOD), who was present at all competition venues throughout the week, was also enthusiastic. “We’ve surpassed our expectations together,” said Albrecht. “We have managed to offer the athletes here a special stage. I am quite pleased about the great response here in Berlin—and all over Germany. We have been able to set new standards in reporting thanks to the unique media alliance. Once again, I would like to thank all those who worked behind the scenes to ensure that the athletes were provided with the best possible environment.”
Birgit Müller, who took part in the press conference on behalf of the 18,000 volunteers, is one of these helpers in the background. “I think the idea behind this was great. To live out inclusion like this—it’s just fantastic,” she said. Müller has a special history. Because of an accident, she was only able to do a sedentary job as a volunteer. She guarded luggage at the media center and combined that with another volunteer activity: she knitted socks for the homeless the whole time. “It allowed me to do two good things at once,” she said.
The closing commentary came from Christiane Krajewski, President of Special Olympics Germany and Chair of the World Games Committee. “The opening ceremony had moved me to tears because of the emotionality and the fantastic performances. That was one of the rare moments in life,” Krajewski said, “and nothing has changed. It was simply a wonderful event—everyone felt that.” Krajewski thanked everyone, including the athletes’ representatives, Special Olympics International, the German government, the state of Berlin, and the organizing committee, for a job well done. “True to the motto ‘after the games is before the games’, she looked ahead. Three perspectives are important to her: One is the athletes’ perspective: I hope that they can continue to live what they felt here in their further sporting life and in society. The second perspective: With the World Games, we have achieved good things that can also be transferred to other major sporting events. For example, the volunteer tandems, accessibility, and the media alliance. The third perspective from the point of view of Special Olympics Germany: That the development of #InclusiveTogether continues,” she said. We want to carry Germany’s largest inclusion movement into the future. For this, we need the involvement of all stakeholders from all sectors.”
Tonight, the Games will conclude with a closing ceremony at the Brandenburg Gate. Tickets are sold out for this event. Doors open at 18:00, with the official start of the event at 20:30. All photography and videography captured during the event will be available post-event.