David Evangelista

It was a beautiful evening at Huntington Bank Stadium. The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, hosted at the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center, have just concluded.

It's a crisp, sun-kissed sky in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Just past the plaza entrance of Huntington Bank Stadium, the city skyline sits perfectly in the end zone corner.

Special Olympics International was honored to join the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C. to host Partners in Diplomacy: Advancing Inclusion Through Sport, bringing together ambassadors, government leaders, diplomatic representatives, and Special Olympics Athlete Leaders.

At Special Olympics, athletes are at the core of our leadership. Their voice and example guide the movement in every way. That’s why we are thrilled to announce Loretta Claiborne as our new Senior Advisor to the CEO, Athlete Experience.

From February 9 – 10, in Washington, D.C., Special Olympics athletes from 49 U.S. Programs attended more than 365 meetings with their members of Congress, advocating for continued partnership to support the organization’s work in health and education.

[Paris, France - 19 February 2026] On 19 February, more than 200 Special Olympics athletes, Unified partners (athletes without intellectual disabilities), and media convened at the City Hall in Paris, France for a landmark moment: the official unveiling of the 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams selected to compete in the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026.

New CEO David Evangelista, Board Chair Timothy Shriver, Chief of Sport and Competition Louis Lauria, Regional President & Managing Director, Latin America Claudia Echeverry, and Special Olympics Board Member and Athlete Leader, Kiera Byland BEM featured in expansive series of articles.

David Evangelista, incoming CEO of Special Olympics International, is the latest guest on the Special Chronicles Podcast, produced and hosted by Special Olympics Illinois athlete Daniel Smrokowski.

The "Between the Games" Sports Conference focused on leveraging the Special Olympics World Games to further Sports Development for Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities in Europe and Eurasia.

Renewed engagement includes a USD 310,000 grant supporting inclusive programming across five regions.