Press Releases

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Washington, DC, USA – 17 September 2025] Special Olympics published a global report today sharing findings from Rosemary Collaboratory—a groundbreaking international initiative designed to advance health equity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across health systems worldwide.

[Geneva, Switzerland – 10 September 2025] Special Olympics and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, have signed a new global Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reaffirming their shared commitment to empower refugees of all abilities through the transformative power of sport.

[San Juan, Puerto Rico – 4 September 2025] With just 92 days to go before the first tip-off at Distrito T-Mobile for the inaugural Special Olympics Unified 3x3 Basketball World Cup, Special Olympics Puerto Rico today hosted the official Draw Ceremony for the Cup.

[August 27, 2025] Special Olympics and modern golf entertainment leader Topgolf will play host to the largest inclusive golf tournament in the world during the Unified Fore Joy ProAm 1-7 September. Golf fans of all abilities will support and raise funds for Special Olympics programming at thirty participating Topgolf venues located in the United States.

[Washington, DC, USA - August 4, 2025] Special Olympics, Inc. is proud to announce the launch of the Special Olympics Toyota bZ Sweepstakes, an exciting opportunity for supporters across the United States to win a cutting-edge 2026 Toyota bZ All-Electric Vehicle while helping to create inclusive opportunities for Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities.

The 16 teams—comprising around 200 players—from across the globe that will compete in the first edition of the Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup in Katowice, Poland from 5 to 8 October 2025 have been announced today.

[Chicago, Illinois, USA - July 18, 2025] United announced today that it will expand the industry’s only Special Olympics Service Ambassador (SOSA) program to the airline’s hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Newark. The goal is to welcome 10 more people into the program and reach a total of 28 SOSA employees across all seven of its U.S. hubs, furthering its effort to create employment opportunities for people with physical and intellectual disabilities.

[July 14, 2025] Two global, inclusive sport leaders team up to strengthen Unified Sports coaching and increase access to sport

[Washington, DC, USA – 14 July 2025] The international Board of Directors of Special Olympics is pleased to announce the appointment of David Evangelista as the global movement’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2026.