In the News
In every corner of the earth, Special Olympics is changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. These news stories come from all around the world.
Thrills and Triumphs at the Unified Volleyball World Cup Poland 2025
Special Olympics United Arab Emirates (Women’s) and Special Olympics Slovakia (Men’s/Mixed) both won gold, each team bringing its own energy to the tournament.
5 Min Read
Special Olympics and UPS Extend Global Collaboration to December 2026
Renewed engagement includes a USD 310,000 grant supporting inclusive programming across five regions.
1 Min Read
Special Olympics Health Messenger Valentino Vergotine Speaks at the World Health Summit 2025 in Berlin
“We have to focus on the invisible—the invisible challenges to health services and invisible people, like me.”
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A Landmark Week for Inclusion: Middle East & Africa MATP Coach Training and Health Forum
From October 1 – 5, 2025, Special Olympics Middle East & North Africa (SOMENA) hosted the first-ever Continental MATP Coach Training Seminar and Family Health Forum in Abu Dhabi.
2 Min Read
Special Olympics Athlete Is Leading Change in Healthcare
When Melony Salla, a Special Olympics Indiana athlete, walks into a doctor’s office, she wants to be treated like what she is, the expert on her own body.
2 Min Read
Turning Struggles Into Strength
At 18 years old, Lê Trọng Nguyên (Austin), the only child in his family, Austin has always been surrounded by love at home, but school life was often a different story.
1 Min Read
Special Olympics Asia Pacific Badminton Competition Expands Inclusive Sports Landscape for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the Region
The Special Olympics Asia Pacific Badminton Competition recently wrapped up, with 80 badminton players, including 63 athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities and 17 unified partners.
5 Min Read
Growing Athlete Leadership in Hawaii
When Nikilani Rojas first learned she had been chosen to attend the Special Olympics North America (SONA) Conference, she was at baseball practice.
2 Min Read
Inaugural Special Olympics European Union Day: Athlete Voices Echo in Heart of Europe
The inaugural Special Olympics European Union (EU) Day, a flagship event of the European Week of Sport, saw almost 200 athletes, coaches and staff take Brussels by storm as they raised their voices at the European Parliament and the European Commission on 24 and 25 September.
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Euronews Highlights Inaugural Special Olympics European Union Day
The following is an excerpt from a Euronews article highlighting the participation of Special Olympics athletes, staff and leadership at the inaugural Special Olympics European Union Day on 24 and 25 September 2025.
1 Min Read
A Historic First: Meet Eight Top Athletes Taking to the Volleyball Court in Katowice
The inaugural Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup will see 8 women’s and 8 men’s/mixed teams competing for the title.
3 Min Read
Youth Empowered, Leaders Inspired: Sangjin Kim
For as long as he can remember, Sangjin Kim loved football. Growing up in Korea, much of his free time was spent on the pitch.
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