Together, Special Olympics and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, are proving that sport is more than play - itโs a powerful tool for dignity, belonging, and opportunity.
Yesterday, Special Olympics Unified with Refugees coordinator, Gerald Mballe Mballe, made an impassioned speech at the Global Refugee Forum - the worldโs largest international gathering on refugees - calling on all governments and organisations to join Special Olympics in positioning inclusive sports as a core pillar of inclusion for every displaced person worldwide.
Special Olympics is deeply proud of our ongoing and close collaboration with UNHCR, including through our powerful global partnership, UNHCR's committed membership of the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion, Special Olympics' contribution the Sports for Refugees Coalition at UNHCR and our work together globally through the Special Olympics Unified With Refugees programme.
#specialolympics#UnifiedwithRefugees#globalcoalitionforinclusion#developmentthroughsport#sportforrefugeescoalition
๐โจ @distritotmobile was full of inclusion, acceptance, and joy for the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics Unified 3x3 Basketball World Cup, in San Juan, Puerto Rico!
๐บ Watch LIVE on Special Olympics YouTube ๐ brnw.ch/21wY5Zr#ChooseToInclude#PlayUnified
Preventive care matters. ๐ฉบ This #WellnessWednesday, former U.S. Surgeon General @JeromeAdamsMD highlights how @SpecialOlympics Healthy Athletes is closing the gap for people with intellectal disabilities.
"๐ฃ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ป๐ผ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ."
Our Chief Inspiration Officer Loretta Claiborne's open letter to @KidRock following his use of the R-word on a live national news network was reported widely by some of the world's biggest global news outlets. The offer still stands - Loretta is willing to speak with you and share more about our movement that stands for inclusion and respect. ๐nbcnews.com/news/us-news/speโฆ#WordsMatter#ChooseToInclude#SpecialOlympics
Weโre proud to share that Loretta Claiborne was honored at the PA @GovernorShapiro State Dinner with the Governorโs Keystone Award for Outstanding Service by the highest civilian recognition in Pennsylvania. Congratulations Loretta!
#SpecialOlympics#ChooseToInclude
My friend Loretta Claiborne has spent decades turning pain into purpose, standing up against the R-word and teaching the world the power of respect.
When public figures use that word, they reopen wounds that people like Loretta have spent their lives healing.
I stand with Loretta. Itโs time for @KidRock, @JesseBWatters, @FoxNews โ and all of us โ to do better. Join us to choose respect and inclusion over hurtful words: ๐brnw.ch/21wWYUm#ChooseToInclude#WordsMatter#SpecialOlympics
๐ "Unified Sports is Power"
@soeuropeeurasia President David Evangelista and #SpecialOlympics Poland President Tomasz Wolny had an inspiring discussion on inclusion and the impact of the Unified Volleyball World Cup in Poland.
๐ฅ brnw.ch/21wWoEW#PlayUnified
For 3 years, @SpecialOlympics Inclusive Healthy Lifestyle Groups in Schools promoted healthy lifestyles & fostered inclusivity among students with & without intellectual disabilities in 180 schools in 4 countries - among them, Dmitri & Mia-Liise!
#SpecialOlympics#IHLGiS
"Letโs be careful not to stigmatize people with autism. What weโre really about here is science, weโre not about administration, weโre not about politics. Weโre about trying to help moms and dads and young people live full and fulfilling lives." brnw.ch/21wW05y
Today in Brussels, Philippe Housiaux, President of the European Fair Play Movement, joined the Italian National Fair Play Committee and Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles in awarding #SpecialOlympics the Fair Play Award for Peace 2025 โ marking the third year of the award and the first time Special Olympics International has received this prestigious honor.
Established by the European Fair Play Movement and aimed at promoting the principles of fair play in Europe, the award recognizes organizations that actively promote fair play and use sport as a means to build more peaceful and respectful communities across the continent.
#SportWithPurpose#ChooseToInclude
"Patrice The Movie" won an Emmy for โExceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmakingโ! Patrice dedicated the award to millions of disabled people on Medicaid. Watch the full acceptance speech below and stream "Patrice: The Movie" on @hulu now! #ChooseToInclude
On her 107th birthday, we celebrate Rosemary Kennedy Shriverโthe first teacher of inclusion. Her legacy is felt in every athlete who takes the field, every family that finds community, and every barrier that is broken through the power of inclusion.
How will you #ChooseToInclude
"The first teacher of Inclusion."
Today, on what would have been Rosemary Kennedy's 107th birthday, we honor her remarkable life and the impetus she provided to her sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver in establishing #SpecialOlympics as a global force for inclusion. #ChooseToInclude
๐ฅSix months since Turin lit up the world!
From the Flame of Hope to unforgettable moments of courage and joy โ the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games brought us all together.
๐ Relive the magic.
๐ฌ Drop your favorite memory below.
#ChooseToInclude#SpecialOlympics
#TBT to 23 July in Lodz, when the host Special Olympics Poland team set to compete in the Unified Volleyball World Cup on home soil this 5-8 October, was recognized by Polish Volleyball Federation President Sebastian ลwiderski in front of an incredible crowd before an FIVB Womenโs Volleyball Nations League match between Poland vs. China.
#SpecialOlympics#Poland2025
๐ Game On! 16 International Teams Set for #SpecialOlympics Unified Volleyball World Cup in Poland! From 5โ8 Oct 2025, Katowice will host a thrilling showdown as nearly 200 athletes take center court at the Spodek Arena: brnw.ch/21wUyBs@soeuropeeurasia
During #GlobalWeekofInclusion, weโre also highlighting this video from @soeuropeeurasia, which focuses on how inclusive sports and leadership help people with intellectual disabilitiesโwhether running, cycling, or public speakingโโbe the bestโ they can be! #SportWithPurpose