Stories From the Field of Play

Junto con nuestros socios de @fiba, nos enorgullece organizar la primera Copa del Mundo de Baloncesto 3x3 Unificado de Special Olympics, en la que atletas con y sin discapacidad intelectual competirán codo con codo en el escenario mundial. Prepárate para momentos inolvidables, una competición feroz y el poder de la inclusión en acción.

Meet Cecilia Gonzalez, a basketball player with Special Olympics Paraguay, whose life is now unrecognizable after she discovered her love for basketball and competing with Special Olympics.

Together with our partners at @fiba, we’re proud to host the first-ever #SpecialOlympics 3x3 Unified Basketball World Cup, where athletes with and without intellectual disabilities will compete side-by-side on the global stage. Get ready for unforgettable moments, fierce competition, and the power of inclusion in action.

The 22nd edition of Special Olympics European Basketball Week sees 25,000+ players with and without intellectual disabilities taking part in 250 events in 35+ countries, with the support of TME, UPS, FIBA Europe and FIBA Foundation. Games, tournaments, workshops and other activities will be offered across the region for boys, girls and mixed teams, with a focus on Special Olympics Unified Sports® and reaching new Special Olympics Unified Schools through a cross-collaboration with FIBA Hoops 4 Schools. 

The following is an excerpt from sportanddev’s article, detailing the upcoming 2026 Unified Football World Cup in Paris and sharing the excitement from sponsors and Special Olympics leadership.

The following is an excerpt from the International Sports Press Association’s (AIPS) article, “Paris to host 3rd edition of the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup 2026” covering the announcement of Paris, France as the host of the Unified Football World Cup in 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.

The "Between the Games" Sports Conference focused on leveraging the Special Olympics World Games to further Sports Development for Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities in Europe and Eurasia.

Special Olympics Unified Cup 2022 presented by Toyota showed the world how the power of sport builds and shapes a diverse community that unites and empowers people of all abilities, from all backgrounds.

Claudia Peña’s journey with Special Olympics began through her daughter, Paola, but quickly became a shared family experience, one where her family not only found community, but a deeper understanding of inclusion and resilience.