Stories
These global stories are about the power of Special Olympics to inspire hope, confidence and courage. Special Olympics changes the lives of our athletes with intellectual disabilities but also our coaches, families, volunteers and others who have the opportunity to take part.
Saif and Ali Sumaida: A Father Supporting his Son on and Off the Field of Play
“I am Saif Bin Sumaida, a retired senior engineer from ADNOC Gas. God blessed me with four sons and two daughters. We discovered that one of our sons, Ali, had autism at four years old and he struggled a lot with his speech growing up. We enrolled him in speech therapy sessions at the New England Center to help him work on this.
3 Min Read
Special Olympics Denmark Idrætsfestival 2024 Ignites Change
From May 24 – 26, the picturesque town of Frederikshavn in northern Denmark staged the biggest multisport event for athletes with intellectual disabilities in the Nordic region.
3 Min Read
Transformative Power of Believing in one's Potential: A Coach and Athlete’s Bond
Ahmed El Farji has taken on the role of coach with Special Olympics Morocco tennis player Hajar Cherif Lamrani, guiding her with dedication and expertise.
2 Min Read
My Journey with Special Olympics – Zhichen’s Story
An athlete in Chinese Taipei shares how Special Olympics changed his life.
1 Min Read
Raising the Profile of Disability Inclusion at the 77th World Health Assembly
Every year, representatives from Ministries of Health around the world gather in Geneva, Switzerland for the World Health Assembly (WHA)—the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO).
3 Min Read
Samantha Rodriguez: Logging Miles & Leading the Way
To many, running is a solitary sport. One person, one route, one goal. But for Samantha Rodriguez, running has always been more than that. It’s been a way to connect, form a community, and create opportunities for those around her.
3 Min Read
Cyclists Set New Guinness World Record Titles in RideLondon-Essex100
Following Lloyd Martin’s incredible achievements at last month’s TCS London Marathon, Special Olympics Surrey Cycling Club cyclists, Tom Kelsall and Hannah Kemp, have set new Guinness World Records titles by completing the Ford RideLondon-Essex100.
1 Min Read
Empowering Global Youth: The Stevens Initiative and Special Olympics Partnership
Stevens Initiative and Special Olympics have joined forces to expand cross-cultural learning experiences for young people worldwide. Leveraging the Stevens Initiative's expertise in virtual exchange and Special Olympics' global network, this partnership aims to empower young leaders, with and without intellectual disabilities, to drive the inclusion movement in the digital age.
2 Min Read
Special Olympics Jordan Athlete Leader Abdullah’s Mission of Inclusion
Abdullah Al Nahas was born in December 2000, and he impacted many lives with his warmth and friendliness, leaving an extraordinary mark on all those around him.
2 Min Read
Special Olympics at UEFA EURO 2024: Excitement builds for athlete-volunteers in Hamburg!
Today, we catch up with a trio of volunteers: Emilio Jungclaus Miranda, Menja Radke and Steffi Rückner—two athletes and a coach from Special Olympics Hamburg.
1 Min Read
Special Olympics at UEFA EURO 2024: Athletes from Hessen Countdown to Kick Off!
Special Olympics athletes across Germany are in training to volunteer at UEFA EURO 2024 through a groundbreaking tandem volunteering programme inspired by the inclusivity of Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023.
1 Min Read
BWF and Special Olympics Host First-Ever Federation-led Education and Competition Event
In another demonstration of the ever-strengthening partnership between Special Olympics and the Badminton World Federation, a global technical training and regional competition was recently held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
3 Min Read