Stories From the Field of Play
Win or lose, our athletes leave it all on the field. Read more about their triumphs, trials and trainings here.
Athletes and coaches, share your story at the bottom of the page!
Athletes and coaches, share your story at the bottom of the page!
Kay Center Provides Employment and Sport Opportunities to People with Intellectual Disabilities
A lifelong sports fan, Todd Youngblood came to the Kay Community Service Center, a day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) located in Fort Valley, Georgia, in 1995 and was immediately put to work.
3 Min Read
Nashville Selected as Host of 2034 Special Olympics USA Games
[Nashville, TN, USA – 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.
4 Min Read
National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Special Olympics Athletes in the Workplace
October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), recognizing the contributions of people with disabilities in the workforce and reaffirming our commitment to inclusive employment.
3 Min Read
Thrills and Triumphs at the Unified Volleyball World Cup Poland 2025
Special Olympics United Arab Emirates (Women’s) and Special Olympics Slovakia (Men’s/Mixed) both won gold, each team bringing its own energy to the tournament.
5 Min Read
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.
4 Min Read
A Landmark Week for Inclusion: Middle East & Africa MATP Coach Training and Health Forum
From October 1 – 5, 2025, Special Olympics Middle East & North Africa (SOMENA) hosted the first-ever Continental MATP Coach Training Seminar and Family Health Forum in Abu Dhabi.
2 Min Read
Shared Dreams, One Goal: Serbia’s Unified Volleyball Teams Make Their Mark in Poland
Two Serbian athletes—separated by age but united by the game—proudly represented their country.
6 Min Read
Special Olympics Asia Pacific Badminton Competition Expands Inclusive Sports Landscape for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the Region
The Special Olympics Asia Pacific Badminton Competition recently wrapped up, with 80 badminton players, including 63 athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities and 17 unified partners.
5 Min Read
Bronze Victory for Krystian Fąfara and Team Poland!
The arena in Katowice roared as Team Poland clinched bronze on home soil, defeating Iraq in the duel for third place at the Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup Poland 2025.
4 Min Read
Special Olympics UAE and Special Olympics Slovakia are Crowned Unified Volleyball World Cup Champions!
After an electric four days and 40 matches played, the inaugural Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup crowns its first-ever champions: Special Olympics United Arab Emirates (Women’s) and Special Olympics Slovakia (Men’s/Mixed).
3 Min Read
Share Your Story
Athletes and coaches: we would love to hear your story! Fill out this form to share your experiences with the Special Olympics community.