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.
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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AJPH Supplement Spotlighting Special Olympics Health Programming Demonstrates How Inclusive Public Health Spaces Improve the Health of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Implementing strategies to improve health outcomes in all communities requires public health spaces to include people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) at the table when it comes to policy, funding and research decisions.
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France To Face Senegal in Opening Match of the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026
[Paris, France – 16 April 2026] The road to the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026 took a major step forward as the official tournament Draw Ceremony was held at the headquarters of the French Football Federation in Paris on 16 April.
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Nokona Celebrates 100 Years with Celebrity Glove Auction Supporting Special Olympics
[Phoenix – March 26, 2026] Nokona, the iconic American-made ball glove company, in collaboration with Special Olympics, announces an online auction of exclusive baseball gloves.
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