Athletes
Athletes are the heart of Special Olympics. Our athletes are children and adults with intellectual disabilities from all around the world—5.6 million and counting! They are finding success, joy and friendship as part of our global community. They're also having lots of fun!
Splash Brothers of Antwerp Bring Game to Abu Dhabi
Gilles Dupont loves basketball. Even more than that, he loves playing basketball with his brothers and Unified partners, Robin and Floris.
1 Min Read
Abu Dhabi Daily Show Launches
Athlete Leader Daniel Smrokowski Interviews New Special Olympics Board Member Jennifer Fortner.
1 Min Read
Female Athletes Speak to the Power of Inclusion at the Majlis
Female Special Olympics athletes testified to the power of inclusion during a discussion at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Majlis lecture on 13 March, 2019.
3 Min Read
Lots of 'Firsts' on First Day of Athletics Training
It’s been a day of ‘firsts’ on the first full day of Athletics training in official World Games venues!
1 Min Read
UAE Athlete Takes Gold at Most Inclusive Triathlon Ever
Micah Hambleton, 16, from the United Arab Emirates, won a gold medal in the Special Olympics Division 1 category at the Daman World Triathlon Abu Dhabi 2019.
1 Min Read
Acceptance and Inclusion
Jasmine is an athlete leader from Pakistan. She is a Board Member for Special Olympics Pakistan and Co-Chair of the Athlete Input Council for Special Olympics Asia Pacific.
2 Min Read
Meet the World Games Athletes: Shane Baxter
Shane is dedicated, determined, and has his priorities all set out.
1 Min Read
Meet the Determined: #MeetChutipa
Watch the inspirational story of Chutipa reuniting with with the mother she never knew making it possible for Chutipa to go to Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.
1 Min Read
Inclusion Can Change Lives
A life-changing experience that reunited me with my long-lost mother.
2 Min Read
Meet the World Games Athletes: Briton Conor Conway
Briton Conor Conway has lived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for three years and will represent his adopted home at the World Games.
1 Min Read
Sargent Shriver Global Messenger Emanuelle Heads to World Games
Emanuelle de Souza, SO Brazil, started her four-year term as a Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger in January 2019.
1 Min Read
Meet the World Games Athletes: Clara Lehmkuhl
Clara is one of only three people with Down Syndrome in the world officially certified as a Zumba instructor.
1 Min Read