COVID-19

On 24 October, 2020, Special Olympics Unified pair and U.S. Youth Ambassadors, Steven Russel (athlete and student in Georgia) and Jordan Adeyemi (Unified partner from Georgia who attends boarding school in New Hampshire) appeared on The Weather Channel to discuss ways that students can incorporate physical movement into their days while learning remotely due the COVID-19 pandemic.

A series of video interviews between youth leaders in Africa Region and their personal heroes showcase the best of inclusion across society, from the sports field to the classroom, the work place and even the performance stage.

Born with Down syndrome, Reilly defies stereotypes every day through sport, leadership and employment, exemplifying the value people with intellectual disabilities bring to all facets of life.

The world changed in 2020. Isolation, fear, overloaded health systems, and food insecurity continue to plague the world through the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has especially made things difficult for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Significant health disparities have been further exacerbated for those with ID. Special Olympics Health has been working hard to address these disparities.

“Take care of yourself and move forward” has been Joe Wu’s motto during these last few months. No longer able to compete and to practice on a regular basis, Wu—like so many others—has turned to virtual ways to connect and uplift those around him.

Special Olympics Chief Health Officer, Dr. Alicia Bazzano MD, PhD, MPH was a recent guest on the Ben & Bilal Show that airs on Canada Talks SiriusXM 167. They discussed the training, fitness and emotional support available virtually to athletes due to physical distancing related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Updated on 10/24/2023) Getting a flu vaccine every year is important to keep yourself safe from catching the flu. Flu vaccination is especially important for people who are at high risk of getting the flu, many of whom are also at high risk for COVID-19.

Sport Illustrated recently featured an article about how WWE Superstar Big Show, a Special Olympics Global Ambassador, is supporting athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Novie Craven and Bobby Jones, two Special Olympics athletes and staff members at Special Olympics International Headquarters, offered insights into their interaction with Big Show over the years.

Kevin Brown has overcome just about every obstacle put in front of him. He’s never let failure or people giving him a hard time stop him from doing what he loves. But most of all, he puts others first, leads by example and goes above and beyond, even in these uncertain times.

All Special Olympics Programs are experiencing a new kind of normal in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing all to go virtual this year.