Special Olympics International was honored to join the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C. to host Partners in Diplomacy: Advancing Inclusion Through Sport, bringing together ambassadors, government leaders, diplomatic representatives, and Special Olympics Athlete Leaders.
Through the universal language of football and the upcoming Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026, taking place 6 – 11 July in Paris, France, the event highlighted how sport can serve as a powerful catalyst for diplomacy, international collaboration, and lasting social change.
One of the evening’s most memorable moments came from Special Olympics Virginia athlete and Board Member Nathon Horton who shared how a single invitation from a stranger to attend a Special Olympics practice changed the course of his life.
"Imagine what can happen when the world does the same."
His message captured the spirit of the evening: inclusion begins with an invitation. Special Olympics is inviting communities, institutions, organizations, and individuals around the world to join the movement for inclusion and help create more unified societies where everyone belongs.
Special Olympics CEO David Evangelista reinforced this message, noting that, "In practice, inclusion is a contact sport. You've got to show up and if the world can get inclusion right, what other things could we get right as a byproduct? There are so many challenges across the world to focus on. Climate change, geopolitics, economies, AI, the list keeps going. What if we focus just on seeing one another, on including one another? What’s the ripple effect?”
As momentum builds toward the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026, Special Olympics remains committed to harnessing the power of sport to strengthen relationships, break down barriers, and advance inclusion around the world.
