Middle East/North Africa
WTA legends leave lasting impression at year-end Finals in Riyadh
Vania King, Alicia Molik, Jessica Pegula, Gabriela Dabrowski, Erin Routliffe, Iga Swiatek and Garcia joined Judy Murray to help stage the Special Olympics clinic on behalf of the WTA Foundation.
1 Min Read
Nestlé Health Science becomes Global Partner to Special Olympics
[Lausanne, Switzerland - 7 November 2025] Nestlé Health Science (NHSc) has announced a $2 million USD multi-year partnership with Special Olympics. The partnership will focus on Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program (MATP), and the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® screening protocol.
1 Min Read
FIVB Supports Inaugural Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup in Poland
[Katowice, Poland – 14 October 2025] The first-ever Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup took place 5 – 8 October in Katowice, Poland. Sixteen international teams competed, with Slovakia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) taking the men’s/mixed and women’s crowns, respectively.
4 Min Read
A Landmark Week for Inclusion: Middle East & Africa MATP Coach Training and Health Forum
From October 1 – 5, 2025, Special Olympics Middle East & North Africa (SOMENA) hosted the first-ever Continental MATP Coach Training Seminar and Family Health Forum in Abu Dhabi.
2 Min Read
Special Olympics UAE and Special Olympics Slovakia are Crowned Unified Volleyball World Cup Champions!
After an electric four days and 40 matches played, the inaugural Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup crowns its first-ever champions: Special Olympics United Arab Emirates (Women’s) and Special Olympics Slovakia (Men’s/Mixed).
3 Min Read
A Family That Speaks Up
At the heart of Abdel Rahman’s support system is Shahd, Abdel Rahman’s older sister, who realized early that being his sibling meant more than just growing up together; it meant standing up for him.
3 Min Read
Special Olympics Morocco Launches a National Coalition
Special Olympics Morocco launches a national coalition dedicated to championing equal, inclusive, and dignified healthcare for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
1 Min Read
A Full Court of Smiles, Special Olympics Iraq Learns the Importance of Oral Health at Special Olympics Healthy Athletes®
For the Special Olympics Iraq floorball team, success isn’t just measured by earning medals, it’s also about taking every opportunity to improve their health.
2 Min Read
Lighting the Way Series, Part 1: Spotlighting Global Family Leadership on International Day of Families
This International Day of Families, Special Olympics is celebrating the parents, siblings, and caregivers who are the heartbeat of the Special Olympics movement.
4 Min Read
“Playing Badminton Taught Me About Winning and Losing and Gave Me the Motivation to Win in Life.”
Special Olympics was in the spotlight at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) as Special Olympics Ireland badminton athlete Jonathan Deering delivered a keynote address focused on the power of the sport at the BWF Members’ Forum held in Xiamen, China at the end of April.
4 Min Read