In 2020, the United Nations marks 75 years of working toward “peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.” On United Nations Day, we celebrate the UN’s work with a look at some of the Special Olympics athlete leaders, from around the world, who have spoken before UN audiences throughout the years.

Special Olympics Great Britain athlete Niall Guite, a basketball gold medalist, has drawn more than 100 pictures of U.K. football (soccer) stadiums and has raised £4,298 so far by selling them.

What are the benefits of inclusion? Just ask Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President & General Manager of ESPN+, speaking here with Special Olympics athlete Daina Shilts, who’s been part of ESPN’s broadcast team covering World Games. Russell says working with people with intellectual disabilities inspires everyone “to be more thoughtful and to be more interested in people who are different.” He adds, “[Inclusion] also makes us better at what we do every day.”

Banele is a South Africa athlete and athlete leader who built on his basketball and athletics skills to become a coach. Then, he became decided to share his training techniques with others in his community.

My name is Rob van Someren Brand, and I’m a football coach for Special Olympics Germany in Berlin.

Special Olympics is mourning the passing of Tali Kornhauser, family coordinator at Special Olympics Israel. She was a guiding force and inspiration for athletes and activists, family members and Unified teammates—and everyone else—in Israel, Europe and beyond. She was a decades-long champion of inclusion through sports, the arts, and in life.

A series of video interviews between youth leaders in Africa Region and their personal heroes showcase the best of inclusion across society, from the sports field to the classroom, the work place and even the performance stage.

Melissa Reilly has never let her disability determine what she can and cannot do. Born with Down syndrome, Reilly defies stereotypes every day through sport, leadership and employment, exemplifying the value people with intellectual disabilities bring to all facets of life.

The role of a coach comes down to being a strong and supportive leader. As Special Olympics New York coaches, we do this with and for the athletes. We're taking the sport that we love and sharing it because we want to make a change in this world for the better.

The world changed in 2020. Isolation, fear, overloaded health systems, and food insecurity continue to plague the world through the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has especially made things difficult for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Significant health disparities have been further exacerbated for those with ID. Special Olympics Health has been working hard to address these disparities.