Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
UnifiedSports_Blue.png
Unified Sports
All Together for Inclusion
Olivia, Youth Leader
Olívia
Norbert, Youth Leader
Norbert
Region
Europe/Eurasia
Program
Hungary
Project Year
2022
Olívia and Norbert will organize several Unified events to recruit new athletes and Youth Leaders to Special Olympics.

About the Project Leaders

Olívia is a 20-year-old Youth Leader who lives near Győr with her family. Since 2016, Olívia has also been a partner of STAFÉTA Special Sport Club in Győr. During these years, she met a lot of young people with ID, played sports, and went to camps. In her experience, Olívia says that sport is a link that helps people overcome the many difficulties that a young person with ID may encounter in life. Olívia is part of the Unified Generation because she thinks the opportunities, experiences, and results sports offer should be more accessible to as many disabled people as possible. She feels enriched by countless experiences working with young people with intellectual disabilities.

Norbert is a 21-year-old from Hungary. He has been an athlete with Special Olympics Hungary as a member of the STAFÉTA Special Sport Club since 2018. He loves the variety offered by Special Olympics Unified Sports, as he has been able to try everything from track and field, basketball, soccer, to powerlifting. Norbert is a part of the Unified Generation because he is passionate about inclusion. Norbert feels that the Special Olympics team is the best community and wants to bring more people into that community.

The Inspiration

Besides the capital, Győr is one of the largest cities with many sports facilities and schools. Special Olympics Hungary is organizing 8 competitions here this year. The Győr Staféta Special Sport Club is one of the most significant members of the Special Olympics Hungary, competing in several sports at the Special Olympics Games with 41 athletes and 27 partner players. Olivia and Norbert have seen that individual activities are successful individually, but they are often isolated and have no continuity. Many people only participate in the programs only once in a while because they do not know what other options are available. Olívia and Norbert want to change that. Olívia and Norbert want to build on this existing base, on good relationships, connect the activities, continue them and develop them further.

The Plan

Olívia and Norbert plan to integrate the existing initiatives and practices into one system. They will produce 3 films and organize 2 events: A professional workshop and a Unified Sports event. In the second half of the project period, they will reach out to all schools in the city—teachers and students alike—to provide opportunities for young newcomers as well. They will visit the schools personally, and have the opportunity to involve youth in these schools in their project.

Project Goals

Olívia and Norbert would like to develop a closer relationship with the volunteers and partners, gain more than two new Youth Leaders, and reach all the schools in the city. They also hope that by going to schools, they will be able to recruit more athletes to the movement.