The following is an excerpt from AIPS’ article, “Special Olympics set to score more crucial goals for inclusion through its global football development strategy” which highlights Special Olympics’ global football strategy and the impact football has on people with and without intellectual disabilities around the world.
GLOBAL REPRESENTATION Special Olympics football is represented in over 180 countries by 640,000 football players and 27,000 skilled and certified coaches. “So Special Olympics football is a cohesive, targeted and synergised approach to sport development. None of this happens without the work that's going on at a local level, grassroots level, national level or regional level. We're only as good as the work that's going on at each of those levels,” said Lahart.
To attract more people with intellectual disabilities to the game, Lahart explained that Special Olympics enhances the quality of competitions, increases accessibility and leverages partnerships.
Regarding increasing accessibility, Lahart explained: “That's not just access to venues. It's the elements that people take for granted. It's inclusion as a whole. It's access to clubs, to leagues, to federations. It's access to education, communities, healthcare, and employment for people with intellectual disabilities, just like we saw from Bradley's experience.”PARTNERSHIPS Lahart added that they are working with the likes of UEFA and CONMEBOL to provide opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities to participate and contribute to events as coaches, officials, match commissioners, volunteers, or even commentators.
Special Olympics also have strategic partnerships with regional confederations, clubs, leagues, grassroots clubs, and over 110 national football federations to create more inclusive opportunities in the sport.
