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Community Impact

Greece Commits to Expand Unified Schools Nationwide

Joining the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion underscores the European country’s dedication to inclusive education through sports.
 A group of five men in formal attire all smile while sitting behind a large desk with documents on it which three of the men are signing.
Signing ceremony on 17 January 2025 at which Greece officially became a member of the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion. Pictured from left to right: Ioannis Vroutsis, Deputy Minister of Sports; Dionyssios Kodellas, ambassador ad.H, Special Olympics Hellas President, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports; David Evangelista, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia President and Managing Director; and Ambassador ad.H. Vassilis Kaskarelis, Senior Advisor to the Board Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

Greece has officially become a member of the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion following a signing ceremony held in Athens on 17 January, demonstrating the country’s deep-rooted dedication to social inclusion.

This pivotal moment represents a bold commitment to advancing inclusive education and sports initiatives across schools, community centers, and sports clubs nationwide.

The Agreement was signed by the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs & Sports, Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the President of Special Olympics Hellas, Ambassador ad.H, Mr. Dionysios Kodellas, and the President of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, Mr. David Evangelista.

The signing ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Minister, Mr. Ioannis Vroutsis, the Deputy Minister, Ms. Zetta Makri, and by Special Olympics Hellas Board of Directors members, Athletes and Young Leaders with and without intellectual disabilities. On behalf of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), Major Donor of the Special Olympics Educational Program “Play Unified. Learn Unified.”, the Ambassador ad.H, Mr. Vasilis Kaskarelis, Advisor to the SNF Board of Directors, as well as Mr. Panos Vazaos and Ms Alexia Vassilikou, from the SNF Donations and Communications Department respectively.

The Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion, made possible by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, serves as a collaborative platform bringing together governments, the private sector, and global philanthropy. Its mission is to amplify the reach of inclusive education through sports, fostering equitable opportunities worldwide.

The Hellenic Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs & Sports will support the integration of Unified Schools across the country. This commitment, in collaboration with Special Olympics, will result in the establishment of 90 new Unified Schools, further embedding inclusive education into Greece's educational landscape.

Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Kyriakos Pierrakakis said:

“The agreement we are signing today with Special Olympics is an important initiative to further strengthen our excellent collaboration, adding 90 additional schools across Greece to the Unified Schools Educational Program. Most importantly, however, we are taking another step towards a more open and inclusive school, through educational programs and school activities that promote the visibility and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities.

The equal inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in society is an integral part of the mission of every modern educational system. And the inclusion of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs & Sports in the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion reflects our commitment to fulfilling this goal in the field.”

President of Special Olympics Hellas, ambassador ad.H., Dionyssios Kodellas stated:

"This Agreement builds on the exceptional success of the Educational Program "Play Unified.Learn Unified.", which was concluded between our Major Donor, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and Special Olympics, and constitutes the starting point for the continuation of the Program.

We will unwaveringly continue our mission to promote a truly inclusive society. Through the expansion of Unified Schools across Greece, we create a future based on equality, acceptance and mutual respect."

Special Olympics Europe Eurasia President, David Evangelista added:

“The unwavering commitment from the Hellenic Republic to the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion exemplifies how nations can lead the way in championing inclusion through innovative partnerships and bold investments.”

Together in partnership with Special Olympics Hellas, Greece is setting a new standard for how inclusive education through sports can serve as a powerful platform to bridge divides and empower youth with and without intellectual disabilities alike.

We extend our deep gratitude to the national government of Greece, and in particular Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis and the Ministry of Education for supporting our shared vision of inclusion for all.”

Launched in June 2023 during the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, the Global Coalition has rapidly expanded, encouraging governments to invest in inclusive educational programs.

The Coalition, funded by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), also includes key global and civic stakeholders including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Lions Clubs International Foundation, Fondation Botnar and textile brand H&M.

By bringing together a wide range of stakeholders, the Coalition aims to increase opportunities for over 2 million young people in more than 150,000 schools and extend Special Olympics programming to 180 countries.

The Coalition’s members span a diverse geographic footprint, including Angola, China, Egypt, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Malta, Mongolia, Montenegro, Panama, Paraguay, Seychelles, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Arab Emirates.

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