Stories

For Special Olympics Brazil, table tennis is much more than a sport—it is a space for discovery, belonging, and self-improvement. Each training session, match, and athlete represents a story of transformation.

As we come to the end of Autism Awareness Month, we want to join with self-advocates and friends and family members around the world in celebrating the gifts of people with autism. We have been reminded again and again that people with autism can and will continue to be wonderful children, brothers and sisters, and members of families. They can and will continue to go to school, be great friends, join teams, and contribute to their communities. People with autism can and will continue to date, hold jobs, marry, and pay taxes.

As the Presenting Sponsor and Mobility Partner of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, Toyota Motor Europe reinforces their commitment to inclusive sports and individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Follow along as Wang Chang provides a look into his life as he prepares for the Global Youth Leadership Summit.

Special Olympics is paying tribute to the legacy of Pope Francis.

Magic happened in Turin when the Sargent Shriver Global Messengers (SSGMs) connected with a group of talented college students to capture photos and spark a passion for storytelling.

Puerto Rico is set to host Special Olympics’ first-ever Unified 3x3 Basketball World Cup in the historically rich capital city of San Juan from 5 through 7 December 2025. The event will bring together 200 athletes and Unified partners from 39 countries to compete in basketball. Read, watch, and listen to the media already coming in about the inaugural event:

Gabriela Velásquez and Amy Ramírez, two youth leaders from El Salvador, signed up to help shape a summit. In the end it shaped them, too. Since 2023 when they were selected to be part of the Special Olympics Global Youth Leadership Council (GYLC), they grew not only as individuals, but as global advocates for inclusion.

Cross-country skiing athlete and proud Pau Gasol fan represented Special Olympics Spain at the World Winter Games Turin 2025

Dylan Brown shares her journey from volunteering at Special Olympics, to interning at their headquarters, emphasizing the profound impact of inclusion and early intervention for children with intellectual disabilities.

First country in the region joins Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion, to progress the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through education and sports.

“In this world, I’m learning to be proud of myself and to support other people who still don’t believe in themselves.”