‘The most effective way to raise awareness is to let persons with intellectual disability speak for themselves’

“I wish to see more young people make themselves available to support us. I would like to see students and teachers come out because they learn to understand us and know that being together helps us to live more peacefully.”

Polish judoka wants “to be the best” in Berlin

Special Olympics programs and badminton Member Associations are working hard in close collaboration preparing athletes to shine on the world stage at the Special Olympics World Games badminton competition in Berlin this June.

Throughout the Special Olympics North America Region, Programs are creating opportunities for Special Olympics athletes to find their voices and share their powerful stories.

José "Joseíto" Rivera made history in March 2023 when he became the first Special Olympics Puerto Rico athlete to complete an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon. The race was made up of a 1.2-mile swim followed by a 56-mile bike ride and finished with a 13.1-mile run. Joseíto finished the course in just under 7 hours and 45 minutes (7:44.31).

Ablaye Ndiaye is one of the stars of his neighborhood in Senegal’s capital, Dakar. Yet, years ago, he was mostly an outcast due to negative beliefs and stereotypes about people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics is all about bringing out the best in everyone. Special Olympics Unified Sports, which brings together people with and without intellectual disabilities, takes this transformation to another level. Now, meet a Unified Basketball team from Florida, USA that’s taking the power of “playing unified” to the global level at the 2023 World Games in Berlin.

Rehan grew up in a part of Libya where people with Down syndrome face widespread discrimination in education, training, and even medical care. Early on, her family had to cope with stigma and her rejection from society.

It's been a hard road for Ella to become a cycling champion—literally. At age six, she had a traumatic fall from her bike; for years, the fear of falling and of the pain never left her. Ella, who has Down syndrome, was terrified and would shake with fear at even the suggestion of a bike ride.

Anas Al-Zerba has made a name for himself as a role model for people with intellectual disabilities, for people with Down syndrome—and for everybody else!