Just days after the Special Olympics Sweden Invitational Games brought athletes and supporters together in Malmö, Sweden, the spotlight now turns to Malta for the Special Olympics European Open Swimming Competition 2026.
Special Olympics Malta is ready to welcome 250 Special Olympics swimmers from 35 countries across Europe and beyond for this exciting competition, hosted in collaboration with Sport Malta. From 10 to 14 September 2026 at the National Pool Complex, Tal-Qroqq, Malta, athletes with intellectual disabilities will compete across a range of races: including 25m, 50m, and 100m individual races, as well as 4 x 25m freestyle relay events for male, female, and mixed teams.
Taking place as part of the official Special Olympics Europe Eurasia sports calendar, the event will be one of the most significant multi-national Special Olympics swimming competitions of this year. In and beyond the pool, this event will engage well over 1,000 people, including athletes, families, officials, volunteers, partners, NGOs, and members of the public.
“From Malmö to Malta, our movement is showing the strength, reach and spirit of inclusion through sport,” said Sven Albrecht, President and Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia. “Following the wonderful international event in Sweden, Europe is already looking ahead to the next major competition on European soil. Thanks to the outstanding commitment and organizational excellence of our National Programs, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia is able to offer a diverse calendar of international competitions and events, which not only set important opportunities for athletes across our region, but also attract participants, families, volunteers and supporters from around the world.
We are deeply grateful to National Director, Anna Calleja, and the team at Special Olympics Malta for their exceptional leadership and commitment. As pioneers in hosting international events after the pandemic and in advancing initiatives such as MATP and Athlete Leadership, they continue to set an inspiring example for our movement.”
From competition standards and athlete welfare to volunteer training and technical coordination, Special Olympics Malta is curating every aspect of the preparation to deliver a professional, safe and inclusive international competition for every swimmer taking part.
European Aquatics will play a key role in supporting the competition’s delivery, helping to strengthen the event’s technical framework. By engaging national federations and experienced officials, the partnership will contribute to a fair, professional and inspiring environment for every athlete competing.
“European Aquatics is proud to support this important initiative in Malta, which demonstrates how our sport can bring people together and create opportunities for everyone,” commented Antonio Silva, President of European Aquatics.
“Inclusion is a fundamental part of our vision for the future of aquatics in Europe, and events such as this turn that commitment into meaningful action. I congratulate Special Olympics Malta, ASA Malta and all the partners, athletes, coaches and volunteers involved, and wish everyone a wonderful and inspiring event.”
For Malta, hosting the Special Olympics European Open Swimming Competition 2026 will be an opportunity to bring inclusion into the heart of the community, showing how sport can connect people across abilities, generations and backgrounds.
With over 1,000 people set to attend, the event will create shared experiences that extend far beyond the pool. It will strengthen local awareness, encourage greater community participation, and leave a meaningful legacy for inclusive sport across the country.
“Hosting the Special Olympics Malta Swimming European Open 2026 is far more than hosting an international sporting competition,” said Anna Calleja, Special Olympics Malta National Director.
“It is a powerful statement about the Malta we believe in, where every athlete is valued, every ability is recognised, and every person has the right to participate, compete and achieve. This is our opportunity to put Malta on the international map for all the right reasons. As a country that believes in equality, celebrates ability and opens its doors and its heart to every athlete”.
Anticipation is already building across Malta and the wider Special Olympics movement. With athletes preparing to compete, communities preparing to welcome them, and partners coming together to support, the event promises to be a vibrant celebration of sport, friendship and inclusion that will leave a lasting mark on the Europe Eurasia region and on all who take part.
