What is WASM?
Earlier this month, Special Olympics joined global sport leaders, researchers, and practitioners from around the world at the 5th World Association for Sport Management (WASM) Conference, held 3 – 6 March in Cape Town, South Africa. Under the theme “Global Visions, Local Actions: Innovation and Sustainability in Sport Management,” the conference fostered dialogue on sport governance, innovation, sustainability, and the social impact of sport, creating a collaborative space to exchange ideas and explore approaches to innovation and sustainability in sport management.
During the conference, Special Olympics Chief of Health Operations Annemarie Hill, delivered a compelling keynote address highlighting the power of inclusive sport to drive health, social impact, and community transformation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Hill raised awareness of Special Olympics programming around the world, but particularly the ability of that programming to change the lives of individual athletes, their families and their communities, including:
- Special Olympics Healthy Athletes®: Showcasing the over 2 million free health screenings, referrals, and health education provided to Special Olympics athletes through Healthy Athletes screenings, made possible by the Golisano Foundation.
- Special Olympics Young Athletes: Introducing the foundational sports and play program that builds motor, social, and cognitive skills for over 300,000 children with and without IDD.
- Unified Schools: Demonstrating the reach of inclusive education, now spanning over 50,000 campuses worldwide.
Through videos and stories, Hill shared powerful insights on inclusion in sport and the importance of creating environments where sport can truly serve all communities. She also discussed the impact of the Special Olympics World Summer and Winter Games, while underscoring the scale of Special Olympics at the grassroots level and the essential role coaches and volunteers play in sustaining the movement’s year‑round impact.
“The conference provided a valuable opportunity to connect with the many academics, researchers and industry leaders already contributing to the success of our Movement and Games. But perhaps more importantly, it was very rewarding to be approached by so many participants who were learning of Special Olympics for the first time and motivated to begin engaging with the movement.”
Special Olympics was also awarded the inaugural “WASM Outstanding Sports Organization Award” by WASM President Dr. Ruth Crabtree, recognizing the organization’s impact and continued collaboration with the sport management community, and unique ability to advance inclusion through sport.
