The Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) has awarded a USD 50,000 grant to the Special Olympics Unified with Refugees programme for the 2026-2027 cycle, reinforcing a shared commitment to using sport as a powerful tool for inclusion.
Part of the funding will directly support upcoming World Refugee Day activations taking place in Spain in June and in Slovakia and Uganda before the end of the year, implemented in partnership with Special Olympics programmes on the ground. These activities will bring together refugees, people with intellectual disabilities, and local communities through inclusive sport.
The Unified with Refugees programme is a flagship initiative of Special Olympics that uses sport to promote inclusion and create opportunities for displaced populations and people with intellectual disabilities to train, compete, and build friendships. Through sport, the programme helps break down barriers, challenge stigma, and create safe spaces for participation and belonging.
Gerald Mballe, Unified with Refugees programme coordinator, said: “This grant from the Olympic Refuge Foundation is a powerful recognition of the importance of inclusion through sport for some of the most marginalised communities. It allows us to strengthen our work in both Europe and Africa, and to continue creating opportunities where refugees and people with intellectual disabilities can come together, play together, and grow together. We are deeply grateful for this grant and the trust placed in our Unified with Refugees initiative.”
World Refugee Day activations in the Spanish capital city of Madrid will bring together athletes, coaches, volunteers, and partners for a two-day programme of sport. In Slovakia and Uganda, similar initiatives will support local communities and athletes through Unified Sports activities at grassroots level.
Jeroen Carrin, Associate Director of the Olympic Refuge Foundation, added: "We are pleased to support Special Olympics through the United with Refugees programme. Special Olympics have a long history of using sport to foster inclusion, and this initiative continues that work by bringing together refugees, people with intellectual disabilities and local communities. Sport creates a unifying space where these diverse groups can come together, participate and ultimately break down barriers."
Looking ahead, the funding will also help explore additional implementation opportunities linked to Unified with Refugees across the world, with a focus on scaling impact and increasing visibility of inclusive sport models across regions.
Since its launch in 2016, Unified with Refugees has positively impacted over 10,000 refugees and people with intellectual disabilities. This initiative has active collaboration in 13 countries across three continents, with the support of UNHCR, Lions Clubs International Foundation, ESPN and a host of local and national stakeholders.
