Unified Champion Schools

[May 21, 2026] Special Olympics and the Young 9 Foundation, founded by Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, have teamed up to expand inclusive sports programming.

Inside Victoria Fertitta Middle School, celebration isn’t just filling the gym—it’s filling every corner of the campus. After years of intentional work to ensure every student feels seen, invited, and valued, the school is marking a milestone: national recognition for inclusion. The school will be recognized by ESPN and Special Olympics North America as a National Banner school. National Banner status is one of the highest honors a school can earn through Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools®—recognizing campuses where inclusion isn’t occasional but embedded in daily culture.

High-level delegation led by SOEE President Sven Albrecht meets Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and national partners in Skopje to strengthen cross-sector commitment to inclusion through sport

On a day full of inclusion, education and sport, Sports Illustrated covered the ceremony when Bush Hill Elementary School in Alexandria, VA was named an Unified Champion School by Special Olympics.

When the Philippines joined the Global Coalition for Inclusion, it marked a significant milestone for the Asia Pacific region and reinforced a growing commitment to inclusive education.

[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.

Bhutan’s Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) signed a landmark MoU with Special Olympics Bhutan, outlining a long-term vision to expand Unified Champion Schools® programming.

[Washington, DC, USA - 22 January 2026] Special Olympics has issued a powerful global call to action, warning that the world is facing a critical shortage of teachers that threatens the future of millions of students, most critically, learners with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Special Olympics Saudi Arabia entered the Unified 3x3 Basketball World Cup with a mission grounded in competitive drive.

All youth deserve the chance to learn, lead, and thrive. The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity is committing US$11 million to the Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion in Education. Through this partnership, we are proud to continue to scale a movement dedicated to building more inclusive schools and societies worldwide. Together, we are shaping a future where every young person is valued, celebrated, and belongs.