Yuhang and Jiarui brought together students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through track and field activities, creating opportunities for participants to build meaningful connections and strengthen their confidence. Through participation in athletic activities, students developed important values such as empathy, fairness, teamwork, and mutual respect. Their efforts also helped foster a stronger culture of inclusion within the broader community in Hunan Province, inspiring future collaboration between mainstream and special education schools.
Yuhang’s personal journey as a Special Olympics athlete inspired him to initiate a project that created opportunities for people of all abilities to experience the joy of inclusive sports. He believed that sports could serve as a powerful tool for breaking down barriers and fostering genuine connections with others. Jiarui, as a special education major at Hunan Normal University, met Yuhang at a Special Olympics Summit, and was inspired by the supportive atmosphere she felt from everyone at the event. Together, Yuhang and Jiarui were eager to advance the integration of inclusive activities to build a more welcoming world. They were supported by their teachers, schools, partner organizations, and Special Olympics to carry out their project.
Yuhang and Jiarui began their project by conducting surveys and interviews at special education schools in Changsha to better understand existing attitudes toward inclusion. Based on their findings, they launched the “Do You Dare?” challenge to encourage participants to reflect on and rethink traditional perceptions of disability. Participants then joined a series of Unified Sports activities, including track and field, relays, obstacle races, and team-building challenges designed to promote equal participation and collaboration.

Students with and without IDD participated side by side, while teachers and volunteers provided individualized support to ensure that every participant could fully engage and enjoy the activities. A key component of the project was empowering students with IDD to serve as volunteers, encouraging them to take on leadership roles, contribute to their communities, and strengthen their confidence.

Following the event, Yuhang and Jiarui conducted additional surveys and interviews to assess changes in attitudes toward inclusion and identify opportunities for future activities. Highlights from the program were shared through school and media channels, extending the message of inclusion beyond in-person participation and inspiring continued collaboration within the community.
The project successfully achieved its goal of promoting friendship and inclusion through sports, with over 450 youth with and without IDD participating and engaging over 3000 social media impressions. Throughout the activities, participants gained meaningful opportunities to learn from one another and build relationships that they otherwise never would have.

While the project was originally focused on spreading inclusion in the Wangcheng District in Changsha, its influence trickled into surrounding schools and universities, including Dongma Primary School. As Yuhang and Jiarui continued to expand their project, more students, educators, and community members expressed interest in participating in their activities, helping to expand the project’s reach and long-term impact.
Yuhang reflected that he was proud of the project’s success in promoting the values of courage, perseverance, and hard work. He was especially delighted to see participants embrace sports and gain a better understand the mission of Special Olympics. One of his most memorable experiences was participating in the opening ceremony group performance, which demonstrated the power of teamwork.

Jiarui shared that witnessing the growing community support for inclusion reinforced her commitment to spreading inclusive opportunities and mindsets. Her most fond memory was competing in sports activities as a Unified Partner.

Both Yuhang and Jiarui shared that through collaboration and mutual support, they truly saw the beauty of a more inclusive world. With continued efforts to organize similar activities in more diverse formats, extending to additional regions and schools, they aim to continue spreading the spirit of Special Olympics.