United Nations High Commission for Refugees

Special Olympics Europe Eurasia is excited to announce that Special Olympics Italia Unified Partner, Gerald Mballe will join the regional team as the movement’s first-ever Advisor on the Special Olympics Unified with Refugees programme.

Special Olympics and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today signed a global Memorandum of Understanding to formalize a growing partnership benefiting refugees of all abilities.

In 2020, the United Nations marks 75 years of working toward “peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.” On United Nations Day, we celebrate the UN’s work with a look at some of the Special Olympics athlete leaders, from around the world, who have spoken before UN audiences throughout the years.

During a time social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Special Olympics has made a variety of online resources, such as virtual games, workouts and leadership opportunities, available to keep athletes healthy and engaged until in-person activities resume.

Speaking alongside Special Olympics Europe Eurasia President and Managing Director, David Evangelista at UNHCR headquarters in Geneva, Gerald underlined Special Olympics’ ongoing efforts to engage refugee and migrant youth—of all abilities—across the world and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between both organisations.

From chained in a refugee camp to freedom on the playing field, Malaki is ready to show the world his talents and gifts