Special Olympics Europe Eurasia

Relive the emotion of the @specialolympicsnl National Games 2024 with this lovely gallery. Over 2,000 athletes and 750 coaches attended the event in Breda and Tilburg for 2 action-packed days of competition! Huge congratulations to the local team for the impeccable organisation and to all the athletes for their grit and their bright and contagious smiles! 📸: Special Olympics Nederland/Henk-Jan Kerkof and Rachelle Fotografie #SpecialOlympics #ChooseToInclude #NationalGames

Vlad from Ukraine excelled on the athletics track once again at the recent Special Olympics Netherlands National Games in Breda. Read about how athletics training and competition has changed his family’s life in the moving story in our bio. 📸 and story: Walter Tempelman #specialolympics

It was a fun-filled weekend in Bran, Romania, with the first Healthy Young Athletes Pediatric Screening in Europe Eurasia taking place, supported by the Golisano Foundation. This event was a highlight of SO Romania's renowned Young Athletes Camp. Twenty children with intellectual disabilities were screened through five stations: physical exam, biometrics and vital station, developmental screener station, special smiles, and opening eyes. SO Romania's and SOEE's amazing staff, Clinical Directors, and Healthcare Professional Volunteers made this event a success. A Family Health Forum also took place with 22 family members, discussing the importance of general health care, ophthalmologist care, and dental care. To wrap up the weekend, we had a Young Athletes Demonstration led by Athlete Leader Andrei Cupsa, who guided the young participants with great enthusiasm. What a wonderful experience! #SpecialOlympics 📷SO Romania

It was a joy to follow the action during the recent Invitational Hockey Tournament hosted by Special Olympics Nederland as part of their National Games 2024 in Breda – Tilburg. 30 teams – including six international delegations – battled it out on the hockey pitch over two days of competition. The tournament was proudly organised by the Local Organising Committee of the National Games 2024, Special Olympics Netherlands, KNHB and EuroHockey. 📸: Special Olympics Netherlands/Rachelle Fotografie, Jitske Seckel, Henk-Jan Kerkhof #SpecialOlympics

Hot off the presses! 🏐 A new Unified Volleyball Coaching Guide was launched this week as part of the ‘Unified Volleyball Spikes’ project funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union (EU). 80 coaches have already been trained using the guide and there has been a staggering 439% increase in participation in Unified Volleyball as a result of the project. #SpecialOlympics #UnifiedVolleyballSpikes #Volleyball For more info check out the link in our stories! Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

“If I didn’t go to the World Games, I don’t think I’d have a job.” Special Olympics Great Britain's Bradley Stuart underscores the transformative influence of sports and Berlin 2023 on his identity. Growing up, Bradley often felt isolated and experienced bullying at school. He says that, unfortunately, his peers just did not really “get” people with intellectual disabilities.   Discovering his aptitude and love of football changed everything: "If I never started playing football, I don't think I would ever be who I am today. I think I’d be in my room and not really doing anything.” Check out the full story at the link in our stories! #SpecialOlympics  #UnbeatableTogether  #Berlin2023 #ZusammenUnschlagbar   Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

As part of an historic @lionsclubs International Convention in Melbourne, the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Foundation global partnership celebrated an exciting event, recognizing nine Lions Clubs leaders for their exemplary service to Special Olympics athletes and to the global population of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The inaugural Mission: Inclusion awards highlighted the long-standing commitment of Lions Clubs International to inclusion through service, and was coupled by both a Unified Zumba session and Unified Table Tennis with the @soaustralia athletes and Leos of Australia demonstrating their talent. The Mission: Inclusion event also was honored to welcome LCIF Chairperson Brian Sheehan and Lions Clubs International President Dr. Patti Hill as well as a global cadre of strong supporters who continue to serve as champions of inclusion. #LCIFLions #LionsCon24 #ChooseToInclude #SpecialOlympics

Anita Greco is so in tune with the open water that she calls herself a mermaid. When you watch her swimming in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Como, it is difficult to disagree with that. “I love being here in the open water,” she says. It was this passion for swimming that brought Anita to the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin for a life-changing experience. Her full story in our stories! #SpecialOlympics #Berlin2023 #UnbeatableTogether #ZusammenUnschlagbar Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

FIVB official Drawing of Lots for Volleyball at Olympic Games Paris 2024 in Arena Łódź. Special Olympics Poland players drew the 12 teams for Paris 2024. Watch via link in our bio! #specialolympics

We’re still feeling the buzz of the recent FIBA Open in Mies, Switzerland during which 11 Special Olympics teams joined 1,000+ basketball players to showcase their skills to the world. The tournament represented yet another important annual milestone in the powerful partnership between Special Olympics and the FIBA Foundation. Read our interview with Mirek Krogulec of Special Olympics and Theren (TJ) Bullock Jr of the FIBA Foundation by clicking the link in our bio. 📸 @chris_andres29 at FIBA Open 2024 #specialolympics

Model, actor, clarinet player and Special Olympics athlete Tamara Röske was determined to make a statement at the World Games Berlin 2023. "I want to show everyone what I can do," she declared with confidence. Link to her story in our stories #SpecialOlympics #Berlin2023 #UnbeatableTogether #ZusammenUnschlaghbar Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

One year ago today, we celebrated the incredible achievements of our remarkable Special Olympics athletes at the Closing Ceremony of the World Games Berlin 2023. Let's continue to support their limitless potential! #SpecialOlympics 📷Berlin 2023