Last month at Soccerex Miami, Special Olympics International and Soccerex signed their renewed four-year partnership agreement with a focus on their shared commitment to use football as a tool for inclusion.
The renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) comes after the initial partnership agreement signed in 2024 which led to incredible collaboration between both parties, including Special Olympics being featured on panel discussions at Soccerex Miami, Soccerex Cairo, and Soccerex Amsterdam – three cities in three Special Olympics Regions with key opportunities for football development.
The four-year duration of the MOU aligns with Special Olympics newly launched Global Football Development Strategy (2025-2030), with Soccerex committing to assist Special Olympics in their goal of providing equitable football opportunities for all globally.
The MOU signing took center stage at the Miami Beach Convention Center, with Special Olympics footballer and Board of Directors member Emanuelle Dutra (Manu) sharing her story of how football has contributed to her development as a person, on and off the field of play.
“Through football I learned to persevere, fight for what I believe, motivate people, encourage people and to not give up on things even when it looks hard sometimes,” Manu proudly stated to the attendees. “These opportunities (inclusive football opportunities) and many others that Special Olympics provides to me, and million of athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has led me to places that I’ve never dreamed before.
Joining Manu, was Soccerex CEO Garrett Navia, Vice President of Sport Development for Special Olympics International Jon-Paul St. Germain, and Special Olympics Florida footballers from the Miami area.
"Soccerex is excited to partner with Special Olympics to use football as a tool for inclusion on the global stage. As the Soccerex network grows globally, we are excited to have Special Olympics grow alongside us,” shared Navia.
The key components of this partnership will provide access for Special Olympics to Soccerex events and to the Soccerex network of over 6,000 experts within the football industry, from executives to clubs, leagues, federations, technology and equipment providers, and many others linked to the football industry.
Soccerex shows their commitment to bringing the football world together, not only at their events, but through their partnership with Special Olympics, driving inclusion around the world using football as the catalyst for change.
