Special Olympics Regional Inclusive Swimming was a youth-led initiative in Haikou City, China, designed to promote inclusive sports through a series of swim training sessions and a community relay competition. The project paired 8 youth with intellectual disabilities and 8 without to train and compete side by side, fostering understanding, friendship, and teamwork. The program culminated in a public competition that invited families, neighbors, and media to witness the power of inclusion in action.
Youth leaders Zhang Xuan and Yang Boliang were inspired by their shared desire to increase visibility and respect for people with intellectual disabilities in their community. Yang, an accomplished Special Olympics swimmer with Down syndrome, brought his passion for sport and firsthand experience to the leadership team. Zhang, new to the movement but deeply moved by its mission, saw the project as a way to give back and build empathy through shared activity.
The leaders organized five training sessions, four mock competitions, and a final inclusive relay event at a local community pool. Community members were invited to observe the sessions, and the team actively promoted the project’s values through banners, team uniforms, and outreach. The project also included meals and group reflections to build deeper connections among athletes, partners, and families.
The initiative directly engaged 16 young people—8 with ID and 8 without—as athletes and inclusion partners, and reached over 1,000 local residents through on-site engagement and 10,000 through social media. It successfully launched a new Unified Sports Club and introduced two new Youth Leaders. The team hopes the program will become a model for other communities to adopt inclusive activities.
Zhang and Yang said they were proudest of how quickly friendships formed between participants and the positive reactions from the community. They learned how to manage events, lead mixed-ability teams, and use sport as a tool for advocacy. Their next goal is to expand the inclusive swimming program to new districts and inspire more young people to get involved.