Inclusion

Banele is a South Africa athlete and athlete leader who built on his basketball and athletics skills to become a coach. Then, he became decided to share his training techniques with others in his community.

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 role of a coach comes down to being a strong and supportive leader. As Special Olympics New York coaches, we do this with and for the athletes. We're taking the sport that we love and sharing it because we want to make a change in this world for the better.

Special Olympics Operations Specialist Ben Collins Talks with Dr. Andreas Heinecke, founder of Dialogue in the Dark, on World Sight Day 2020

David Egan has written about his life and unique perspective in a book titled More Alike Than Different: My Life with Down Syndrome.

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.

Special Olympics Joins the United Through Sports Virtual Youth Festival

Hanna Joy Atkinson, a Special Olympics Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger and athlete from Colorado, recently appeared on Today with Hoda & Jenna to talk about the inspiration behind her contribution to the new book “Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community.”

Through sports, Special Olympics athletes build skills and become leaders—on the field and in the community. Stephanie Handojo can tell you all about it! For Stephanie, swimming has been a great way to shatter stereotypes about the skills and stamina of people with Down syndrome. But to do this, she had to overcome many obstacles, including a huge one: her fear of water.