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5 Reasons Inclusion Matters More Than Ever

Anas Khalil Al Zorba was once described by some as hyperactive with excessive movement. Then, he joined Special Olympics Palestine. Because of his sports training, the exercise and rules of game helped him control his energy and gain discipline. Not only did his skills and dedication improve his behavior, self-reliance and independence, but they also got him noticed by Special Olympics coaches and staff.

After enduring 136 days in the Hospital due to COVID-19, Colby Douglas, a Special Olympics gold-medaling swimmer from New Jersey, was escorted home by a motorcade that included local police officers. He arrived to cheers and well wishes from his family, friends and neighbors.

Special Olympics Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger Daniel Smrokowski is the founder and host of the podcast Special Chronicles Show, which he started in 2008 to give voice to people with special needs.

COIVD-19 is one of the reasons the city of Liverpool will not be able to host the Great Britain National Games in 2021.

Loretta Claiborne, Special Olympics Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and Chief Inspiration Officer, was recognized by USA Today in the Women of the Century USA TODAY 100 project.

Wilmer Leon, host of Inside the Issues on SiriusXM radio’s Urban View – Channel 126 dedicated an entire hour to Special Olympics on Saturday, August 15, 2020.

Loretta Claiborne has traveled the world with Special Olympics since starting to compete in 1970 with Special Olympics Pennsylvania. Over the past 50 years, she’s grown into one of Special Olympics’ most influential voices.

Special Olympics Board of Directors member Bart Conner was recently interviewed by Front Office Sports CEO Adam White on a podcast titled Office Hours: Bart Conner, Owner of Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy and Former US Olympian.

Today, on International Youth Day, Special Olympics is helping to highlight youth leaders with and without intellectual disabilities who are leading for global action today and tomorrow for a more inclusive world. August 12 was declared International Youth Day by the U.N. in 1999 to celebrate the voices and engagement of young people who are working to create change in their communities, nations and the world.

International Youth Day recognizes youth engagement for global action. To celebrate, some young people who took part in the Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa Youth Leadership Summit 2020 share the impact it had on them and their vision for a more inclusive world!