Athletes
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
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
Thor and Joakim: One Coach, One Player, 25 Years
Swedish coach and player pair, Thor Guttormsen and Joakim Andersson, have undergone a long journey from new acquaintances to close friends, collecting accolades along the way and even attracting the attention of Zlatan Ibrahimovic!
3 Min Read
European Football Week 2024: Celebrating the Beautiful Game for ALL!
European Football Week #EFW2024 will see exciting football activities taking place across the continent from 25 May to 2 June 2024.
2 Min Read
Special Olympics Athletes and Refugees Team Up for Unified Football in Spain
Inclusivity took center stage in Seville, Spain on 25 April 2024, as Special Olympics Andalucía football players and refugees from the local Refugee Reception Center came together for an exhibition match.
2 Min Read
“Inclusion Starts with Sport”
Special Olympics’ Kiera Byland was a highlight speaker at the International Sports Press Association’s Global Congress gathering taking place in Barcelona, Spain this week.
3 Min Read
AIPS: Special Olympics Athlete and Leader Kiera Byland Inspires AIPS Congress to Champion Inclusion Through Sport
Earlier this week, Kiera Byland, BEM made history as the first ever athlete with intellectual disabilities to address more than 400 sport journalists from five different continents who attended the AIPS Global Centennial Congress in Santa Susanna, Barcelona, Spain.
1 Min Read
Special Olympics Colorado Athlete Conquers Mountains, Literally and Figuratively
For Hunter Specht, the mountain is his home away from home. For years, he and his family have bonded over their passion for snow sports, especially skiing. But it was when Hunter’s passion for skiing met Special Olympics Colorado that he was truly able to shine.
3 Min Read
The UPS Foundation Progresses Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities with US $92K Grant to Special Olympics in Asia
In a world where the need for inclusion is increasingly urgent, The UPS Foundation has pledged US$92K to support Special Olympics Young Athletes programming.
2 Min Read