Leadership

Ben Haack is a renaissance man. He’s a Special Olympics Athlete Leader from Australia (including several board assignments), a football (soccer) player and now, he’s added the title of “author” to his list of accomplishments. His book, Reason for Hope: A Parent’s Playbook for Raising Happy and Resilient Kids: Hard Won Lessons from My Life on The Autism Spectrum, published by Belonging Forum, was released on 2 April 2026.

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.

Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, will receive the 2026 Laetare Medal at the University of Notre Dame’s 181st University Commencement Ceremony on May 17, 2026.

From Regional summits to global platforms, young Special Olympics leaders are not waiting for change; they are leading it.

[Johannesburg, South Africa - 24 February 2026] Today, the Special Olympics Africa Regional Youth Leadership Summit kicked off in Johannesburg, bringing together youth with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to build leadership skills and strengthen youth-led change across schools and communities.

[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.

When Wenli first learned about Special Olympics, it wasn’t through a school program or a family connection, it was through a simple post on social media.

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.

This episode features an inspiring conversation between host Novie Craven and Mary Davis, CEO of Special Olympics. With nearly five decades of dedication to the movement, Mary shares her extraordinary journey, the evolution of Special Olympics and her vision for a future rooted in dignity, opportunity and athlete-centered leadership.