South Africa
Move More, Live Healthier Lives: Special Olympics Health Messengers, Fitness Captains, and Coaches Inspiring Their Communities to Get Moving
On World Day for Physical Activity, we’re highlighting Athlete Leaders and a coach who have taken on a variety of leadership roles to empower athletes to stay active year-round. Get to know them!
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2026 Africa Region Leadership Conference
The Special Olympics Africa Region hosted its 22nd annual Africa Leadership Conference, welcoming 110 delegates from 38 Special Olympics Programs across the continent for four days of collaboration, learning, and strategic alignment. The conference took place in Johannesburg from March 23 to March 26, 2026.
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Youth Leadership in Africa is Making News
From Regional summits to global platforms, young Special Olympics leaders are not waiting for change; they are leading it.
2 Min Read
Empowering the Next Generation: Special Olympics Is Scaling Youth Leadership Globally
[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.
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Special Olympics Health Messenger Valentino Vergotine Speaks at the World Health Summit 2025 in Berlin
“We have to focus on the invisible—the invisible challenges to health services and invisible people, like me.”
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Special Olympics Africa Region Uses Education to Expand Inclusive Sport
This Mandela Day, Special Olympics is spotlighting the importance of sport and education in the Special Olympics Africa Region as it creates opportunities for those with and without intellectual disabilities to experience the benefits of sport as it pertains to health, well-being, and fitness.
3 Min Read
Mandela Day: Honoring a Legacy of Inclusion through Sport
This Mandela Day, Special Olympics celebrates the power of partnership and sport to drive lasting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
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Special Olympics and Nike Announce Three-Year Partnership
[July 14, 2025] Two global, inclusive sport leaders team up to strengthen Unified Sports coaching and increase access to sport
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Now Streaming on Kanopy
For the first time ever, Kanopy streams Special Olympics produced short documentaries.
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Shane's Journey of Determination to World Games
If you were to see Shane François Bentley today—gliding on the ice, defending on the soccer field, or diving into a swimming pool—you’d never guess the mountain of challenges he’s had to overcome.
3 Min Read