https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/athletes/julio 2024-06-03T09:49:46-04:00 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CklyR19FXQw/hqdefault.jpg Julio Around the world, people with intellectual disabilities are breaking down social barriers and showing what they are capable of. Meet Julio, a Special Olympics Athlete Leader who works for Panama's Copa Airlines. Julio’s first experience in leadership was in 2005 when he represented Special Olympics athletes in a conference in Japan. Later in 2013, he started working at an airline company in Panama, COPA AIRLINES, in the service on board department, which he really enjoys. He started to get involved with Special Olympics when he attended his state’s special education school and then a vocational state center for people with disabilities. He was 13 years old when these institutions partnered with Special Olympics. It was there that he participated for the first time in a swimming competition and won a gold and silver medal. He then moved on to play football. In his free time, he likes running, going to the movies, listening to music and dancing. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CklyR19FXQw?feature=oembed&autoplay=1 Latin America Julio Cesar Barrera Athletes https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/impact/special-olympics-wishes-you-a-happy-mothers-day 2026-05-06T15:15:07-04:00 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sM-HH5F16qY/hqdefault.jpg Special Olympics Wishes You a Happy Mother’s Day Happy Mother’s Day to all moms and mom-figures around the world of the athletes, coaches, volunteers, staff and supporters of the Special Olympics movement. Today, we recognize and thank you for all your hard work. Neena Garg is the mother of Muskan, an athlete from <a href="https://www.specialolympics.org/programs/asia-pacific/bharat-india" data-cms-id="00000164-a8a2-d924-a7ef-aeab76730000" data-cms-href="https://www.specialolympics.org/programs/asia-pacific/bharat-india" link-data="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000164-8a12-db15-a5fe-ce726a200000","_type":"ae3387cc-b875-31b7-b82d-63fd8d758c20"},"cms.content.publishDate":1715363271985,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000164-af71-d4d4-a975-bff30c6e0000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"cms.content.updateDate":1715363271985,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000164-af71-d4d4-a975-bff30c6e0000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"link":{"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:link:Link.hbs._template":null,"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:link:Link.hbs._preset":null,"attributes":[],"item":{"_ref":"00000164-a8a2-d924-a7ef-aeab76730000","_type":"c72da0de-f69b-35c2-994e-b6a0612ceea9"},"_id":"0000018f-639e-ded0-a1bf-67bf3b620001","_type":"c3f0009d-3dd9-3762-acac-88c3a292c6b2"},"linkText":"Special Olympics India","theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:enhancement:Enhancement.hbs.horizontalAlignment":null,"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:link:Link.hbs._template":null,"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:link:Link.hbs._preset":null,"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:enhancement:Enhancement.hbs._preset":null,"_id":"0000018f-639e-ded0-a1bf-67bf3b510000","_type":"809caec9-30e2-3666-8b71-b32ddbffc288"}">Special Olympics India</a>. Neena faced isolation when family and community members turned their backs on her for loving and supporting Muskan. She fought to find a way for them to build community and confidence. Their efforts led Muskan all the way to Abu Dhabi where she competed as a powerlifter at the 2019 World Games. https://www.youtube.com/embed/sM-HH5F16qY?feature=oembed&autoplay=1 Asia Pacific Bharat (India) Community Impact https://www.specialolympics.org/videos/european-football-week-2024-martims-story 2025-05-06T12:24:02-04:00 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PAQIDUQ9QxU/hqdefault.jpg European Football Week 2024: Martim’s Story Martim from <a href="https://www.specialolympics.org/programs/europe-eurasia/portugal" data-cms-id="00000164-b38e-d4d4-a975-bbae96930000" data-cms-href="https://www.specialolympics.org/programs/europe-eurasia/portugal" link-data="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000164-8a12-db15-a5fe-ce726a200000","_type":"ae3387cc-b875-31b7-b82d-63fd8d758c20"},"cms.content.publishDate":1746548613209,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000164-af71-d4d4-a975-bff30c6e0000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"cms.content.updateDate":1746548613209,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000164-af71-d4d4-a975-bff30c6e0000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"link":{"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:link:Link.hbs._template":null,"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:link:Link.hbs._preset":null,"attributes":[],"item":{"_ref":"00000164-b38e-d4d4-a975-bbae96930000","_type":"c72da0de-f69b-35c2-994e-b6a0612ceea9"},"_id":"00000196-a668-d14f-a3de-efebb9ec0001","_type":"c3f0009d-3dd9-3762-acac-88c3a292c6b2"},"linkText":"Special Olympics Portugal","theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:enhancement:Enhancement.hbs.horizontalAlignment":null,"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:link:Link.hbs._template":null,"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:link:Link.hbs._preset":null,"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:enhancement:Enhancement.hbs._preset":null,"_id":"00000196-a668-d14f-a3de-efebb9ce0000","_type":"809caec9-30e2-3666-8b71-b32ddbffc288"}">Special Olympics Portugal</a> is one of 35,000 players from 45 countries taking part in Special Olympics <a href="https://www.specialolympics.org/regions/europe-eurasia/european-football-week" data-cms-id="0000018d-657e-da4e-a9ff-7dfe8e790000" data-cms-href="https://www.specialolympics.org/regions/europe-eurasia/european-football-week" link-data="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000164-8a12-db15-a5fe-ce726a200000","_type":"ae3387cc-b875-31b7-b82d-63fd8d758c20"},"cms.content.publishDate":1746548638275,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000164-af71-d4d4-a975-bff30c6e0000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"cms.content.updateDate":1746548638275,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000164-af71-d4d4-a975-bff30c6e0000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"link":{"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:link:Link.hbs._template":null,"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:link:Link.hbs._preset":null,"attributes":[],"item":{"_ref":"0000018d-657e-da4e-a9ff-7dfe8e790000","_type":"ba7d9749-a9b7-3050-86ad-15e1b9f4be7d"},"_id":"00000196-a669-d34b-ad97-af7d153c0001","_type":"c3f0009d-3dd9-3762-acac-88c3a292c6b2"},"linkText":"European Football Week","theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:enhancement:Enhancement.hbs.horizontalAlignment":null,"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:link:Link.hbs._template":null,"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:link:Link.hbs._preset":null,"theme.00000163-f9c8-d03b-a967-fdecd6580000.:core:enhancement:Enhancement.hbs._preset":null,"_id":"00000196-a669-d34b-ad97-af7d15270000","_type":"809caec9-30e2-3666-8b71-b32ddbffc288"}">European Football Week</a> 2024. Discover what #EFW2024 and the game of football mean to him! https://www.youtube.com/embed/PAQIDUQ9QxU?feature=oembed&autoplay=1 European Football Week Europe Eurasia Football Portugal Videos https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/special-olympics-world-games-santiago-2027-announcement-makes-headlines-around-the-world 2024-05-16T00:01:00-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/first-ever-para-triathlon-mixed-relay-world-championships-to-take-place-at-torremolinos-finals 2024-05-01T15:53:51-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/uefa-2024-uefa-euro-2024-volunteer-tandem-programme-kicks-off-in-cologne 2024-05-01T15:53:16-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/aips-special-olympics-athlete-and-leader-kiera-byland-inspires-aips-congress-to-champion-inclusion-through-sport 2024-05-02T08:37:06-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/inclusion-starts-with-sport 2024-05-03T10:51:12-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/impact/special-olympics-welcomes-paraguay-into-the-global-leadership-coalition-for-inclusion 2024-05-07T09:00:00-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/impact/special-olympics-athletes-and-refugees-team-up-for-unified-football-in-spain 2024-05-07T09:00:00-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/european-football-week-2024-celebrating-the-beautiful-game-for-all 2024-05-07T15:12:26-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/athletes/i-couldnt-believe-that-i-had-been-selected 2024-05-08T04:00:00-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/about/reports/annual-reports/were-back-and-we-are-changing-the-world 2024-05-09T11:56:35-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/about/press-releases/henry-schein-extends-partnership-with-special-olympics-until-2025-promoting-wellness-and-health-education-for-athletes-with-intellectual-disabilities-around-the-world 2024-05-13T07:00:00-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/athletes/the-news-came-as-a-complete-surprise 2024-05-10T04:00:00-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/about/reports/annual-reports/beyond-limits-a-journey-of-courage-and-triumph 2024-05-13T12:46:20-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/impact/special-olympics-world-games-2023-the-spirit-lives-on 2024-05-14T10:51:50-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/athletes/thor-and-joakim-one-coach-one-player-25-years 2024-05-24T04:00:00-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/athletes/special-olympics-triathletes-battle-it-out-at-challenge-family-triathlon 2024-05-23T12:00:00-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/new-horizons-open-as-special-olympics-europe-eurasia-joins-judo-intellectual-disability-project 2024-05-27T04:00:00-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/sbj-spotlights-santiago-2027-in-its-around-the-world-sporting-events-watchlist 2024-05-23T11:11:34-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/athletes/special-olympics-at-uefa-euro-2024-athletes-from-hessen-countdown-to-kick-off 2024-05-28T12:06:01-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/bwf-and-special-olympics-host-first-ever-federation-led-education-and-competition-event 2024-05-28T11:19:03-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/athletes/special-olympics-at-uefa-euro-2024-excitement-builds-for-athlete-volunteers-in-hamburg 2024-05-31T04:00:00-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/tag/sierra-leone 2024-05-06T11:51:07-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/tag/angola 2024-05-06T11:51:18-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/tag/unified-with-refugees 2024-05-06T14:01:22-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/tag/burundi 2024-05-14T10:42:56-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/tag/monaco 2024-05-22T16:54:37-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/tags/santiago-2027 2026-08-13T08:53:11-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/tag/lloyd-martin 2024-05-29T12:26:27-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/our-work/unified-champion-schools/national-education-leaders-network-members/s-kwesi-rollins 2024-07-08T11:08:35-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/about/board-of-directors/gail-hamamoto 2024-05-09T10:46:49-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/what-we-do/research-and-evaluation/project-all-star/suzanne-oneal 2024-07-31T12:42:37-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/what-we-do/research-and-evaluation/project-all-star/morgan-ellingson 2024-07-31T12:43:43-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/what-we-do/research-and-evaluation/project-all-star/calvin-trisolini 2024-07-31T12:50:27-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/our-work/research/get-to-know-the-team/michael-rosanoff 2024-05-28T14:49:21-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/about/board-of-directors/laura-valverde 2024-05-30T12:57:40-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/programs/africa/angola 2025-06-03T08:36:22-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/programs/sierra-leone 2024-11-19T14:56:54-05:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/regions/special-olympics-europe-eurasia/about/initatives/european-union-funded-projects/judo-intellectual-disability-project 2026-04-07T04:01:17-04:00 https://www.specialolympics.org/what-we-do/research-and-evaluation/project-all-star 2025-07-21T10:56:53-04:00