BE A FAN OF
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
An overview of how Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE)
can inspire athletes with intellectual disabilities
Europe/Eurasia
Be a fan™
BE A FAN OF
TABLE OF CONTENTS RESPECT
Welcome
Welcome 1
What is Special Olympics? 3
About Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia 5
Our athletes’ stories 6
Changing lives for the better 9
Our initiatives 10
Our ambassadors and partners 12
Mary Davis, Managing Director Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics,
of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Global Headquarters, Washington DC
Through sports we are empowering a neglected population We do not say we can change the whole world, but for our
while changing attitudes, fostering community building, athletes it is a huge change in their world. Our vision is a world
providing healthcare and influencing policy, and creating a where every person, regardless of their ability or disability, is
more inclusive and accepting Europe/Eurasia for all of us. accepted, welcomed and valued - a world of inclusion and
mutual respect, without bias or prejudice.
Our goal is to build a more civil society
Europe/Eurasia
Be a fan™ one athlete and one attitude at a time. 1
BE A FAN OF
COURAGE
What is Special Olympics?
Let me win,
Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports In 1988, the International Olympic
organisation, providing year-round training Committee (IOC) signed a historic
and competition for children and adults agreement in which the IOC officially
with intellectual disabilities. endorses and recognises Special Olympics.
but if I cannot
win, let me be
Created in 1968 by the vision of Eunice Special Olympics should not be confused
Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics now with Paralympics, which provides elite level
serves more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 sports competition for multi-disabled groups
countries. It gives opportunities to develop
physical fitness, demonstrate courage,
including physical and blind.
brave in the
attempt.
experience joy, and share gifts, skills and
friendships with families, other athletes and
the community.
- Special Olympics oath
2 3
BE A FAN OF
OPPORTUNITY
About Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia
Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE) Unified Sports® was developed
works with half a million athletes by Special Olympics to provide
across 30 sports in 58 countries from opportunities for Special Olympics
Western Europe to Central Asia. athletes to train and compete on the
SOEE assists National Programmes in same team with partners without
becoming more effective in using sports intellectual disabilities. Additionally,
to highlight the rights and abilities of for athletes with profound intellectual
Special Olympics athletes. disabilities, Special Olympics offers the
Motor Activities Training Programme.
Special Olympics
happens every day
We offer year-round training and
When we play
competition in a range of summer and
winter sports. Athletes of all skill levels football, we can’t
are welcome to train with us. Within
each event, competitions are arranged
by organising athletes with similar
see differences.
abilities into groupings called ‘divisions’. - United Sports® partner from Romania
Summer sports: Winter sports:
Aquatics Football (Soccer) Softball Alpine Skiing
Athletics (Track & Field) Golf Table Tennis Cross-Country Skiing
Badminton Gymnastics (Artistic & Rhythmic) Team Handball Figure Skating
Basketball Judo Tennis Floor Hockey
Bocce Kayaking Volleyball Speed Skating
Bowling Motor Activity Training Programme Snowboarding
Cricket Powerlifting Snowshoeing
Cycling Roller Skating
Equestrian Sailing
4 5
BE A FAN OF
JOY
Our athletes’ stories
Raman Mytrasanov – Latvia Angelina Accili – France
Like many children with intellectual Angelina Accili is a 14-year-old athlete
disabilities, Raman was abandoned in an from France. She competes in Aquatics
orphanage in Latvia soon after his birth. and has represented her country in the
With a passion for sport – particularly 2007 Special Olympics World Summer
football - Special Olympics has become Games in Shanghai, China.
his family.
For me, my coach is like Special Olympics has
the father I have never given me confidence to
known. When I compete believe in my abilities
with my friends in Latvia and courage to follow
or abroad, I know he is my dreams. Today, I am
proud of me. not afraid anymore.
6 7
BE A FAN OF
GENEROSITY
Changing lives for the better
In Europe/
According to the World Health Despite proof that people with
Organization, up to three percent, intellectual disabilities can thrive,
or almost 200 million people of the educational opportunities, community
world’s population, have intellectual
disabilities. This is the largest disability
programmes and support are weak.
Even after years of progress, we still Eurasia
there are
population in the world. have a long way to go.
People with intellectual disabilities But with your support we can change
are often banished to institutions,
hidden from public and condemned to
things for the better.
26.5 million
people with
a life of loneliness. For most, the basic To help end this shameful neglect, get
human needs of love, friendship and involved or donate now and promote
acceptance are missing, leaving them dignity and inclusion for all.
physically and emotionally isolated.
an intellectual
disability.
8 Visit www.specialolympics-eu.org 9
BE A FAN OF
INCLUSION
Our initiatives
Special Olympics Athlete Leadership
Global Football (SOGF) Programme (ALPs) Family Support Network
is a new initiative supporting allows athletes to demonstrate their provides a programmed structure in
opportunities for grassroots talents and interests, to receive which Special Olympics families reach
participation, public promotion and training and to learn new skills that out to new families to welcome them
fundraising through the world’s most they can apply to Special Olympics into the Special Olympics community.
popular sport – football. as public speaker, coach assistant,
Inter Milan (Italy), Tottenham Hotspur
(UK), Corinthians Paulista (Brazil), the
committee member, volunteer, media
representative, etc. Their achievements
Few things in life
Football Association of Ireland as well
as Brazilian star Kakà and Argentinean
prepare them for inclusion in society at
large, increasing their chances to live
could have given me
legend Osvaldo (Ossie) Ardiles, among independently, to make friends or to greater pleasure or
other greats, have all signed up to be find a job.
SOGF Ambassadors. brought me more
Special Olympics Get Into It™ honour than to be
Healthy Athlete Programme is a free service-learning school
provides a preventive health screening
service during Special Olympics events.
curriculum that celebrates the diverse
gifts of every student whatever his or
associated with
Research has shown that people her ability. Non-disabled school children Special Olympics... It
with intellectual disabilities have a are encouraged to start or join Special
40% greater risk of suffering from Olympics programmes as Unified is a testament to the
nutritional, dental, hearing, vision and Sports® partners, volunteers or fans.
podiatric problems. indestructibility of
the human spirit.
- Nelson Mandela
10 11
BE A FAN OF BE A FAN OF
HUMAN SPIRIT TRANSFORMATION
Our ambassadors and partners Volunteer, donate, coach or compete
Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia is supported by the European Union (EU) as well as
a wide range of European based corporations, celebrities, politicians, sportsmen and Special Olympics Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia
3rd Floor Morrison Chambers
sportswomen. Our partners include:
is the way the 32 Nassau Street
Dublin 2 Ireland
SOEE Partners: Global Partners: world should be, Phone: +353 1 675 5710
Fax: +353 1 707 1748
Microsoft Coca Cola
Vodafone Foundation DHL abundant in joy Visit us at
Some National Programme Disney
Partners:
Essilor International (Healthy Athletes) and understanding www.specialolympics-eu.org
Lions Club International (Healthy
ABB (Germany, GB, Italy)
Adidas (Italy)
Athletes) and showing no
Mattel
Accenture (Ireland)
Armani (Italy)
Proctor & Gamble judgment; an
The Safilo Group (Healthy Athletes)
Bank of Ireland (Ireland)
Cablecom (Switzerland) Sporting Federations: environment where
UEFA We Care
eircom (Ireland)
National Grid (Great Britain) Euroleague Basketball competition does
FIBA Europe
Orange (Poland)
Proctor & Gamble (Turkey) LEN not make an enemy
Subway (Ireland) Government Agencies: of your fellow
Weurth (Germany, Norway) European Parliament
European Commission
Local Government Agencies
athlete but a friend.
- Colin Farrell,
Special Olympics Ambassador
Europe/Eurasia
12 Be a fan™
BE A FAN OF
UNITY
European Games Law Enforcement Torch Run 2010
Lighting the “Flame of Hope”
10th September, 2010 sees the
Bringing the Torch to Poland
On 15th September, members of It is great to
the Polish police force (Policja) will
see the “Flame
ceremonial lighting of the Torch to
herald the official opening of the 2010 help carry the Torch through the 58
European Games in Warsaw, Poland communities in Poland hosting Special
from 18th-24th September. Olympics athletes. Then, on 18th
September, it will arrive in Warsaw’s
of Hope” arrive
Carrying the Torch through Europe
Law enforcement officers will be
Legia Stadium to light the cauldron at
the Opening Ceremonies. at opening
joined by Special Olympics athletes
from across Europe in a series of relays Join in the Torch Run ceremonies and
to think it is
through more than 18 cities that will Community leaders, law enforcement
open their hearts and honour athletes officers, corporate sponsors, civic
competing in the European Games. The groups, schools and the public are all
route includes Greece, Turkey, Slovenia,
Portugal, Great Britain, France, Belgium,
welcome to join the run in their city,
and share the spirit of Special Olympics.
burning for us.
Luxembourg and Poland. - Constantinos Fotodimas,
Special Olympics Hellas athlete
To find out what your community
is doing, contact your local Special
Olympics organisation or:
Angela Fresne
Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia
3rd Floor 32 Morrison Chambers
Dublin 2 Ireland
Tel: +353 1 675 5710 www.specialolympics-eu.org
afresne@specialolympics.org www.specialolympics-eu.org
BE A FAN OF
INSPIRATION
Be inspired by the courage of Special Olympics athletes
Regional Calendar 2011 Special Olympics awareness event worldwide. It will
Special Olympics happens in World Summer Games take place in Europe ahead of the 2010
communities every day around the Taking place from 25th June to 4th European Games and the 2011 World
region with local, national and regional July, the thirteenth Special Olympics Summer Games. Starting in Greece, the
competitions. Major upcoming events World Summer Games (ATHENS “Flame of Hope” is carried by athletes
include: 2011) will draw 7,000 athletes from and fundraising police officers through
more than 180 countries around the numerous countries, finally arriving at
2010 Special Olympics world, 3,000 coaches and officials, the opening ceremonies of the Games.
European Games 25,000 volunteers, 40,000 family
Taking place in Warsaw, Poland from members, thousands of spectators, Host Town Programme
18th – 24th September, 1,600 athletes as well as hundreds of journalists Prior to the Games, each delegation
will compete in the largest sporting who will document the efforts and is adopted and hosted by one
event in Europe for people with achievements of the athletes. particular town, increasing the
intellectual disabilities. Visit www.athens2011.org public’s involvement and fostering
Visit www.warsaw2010.eu understanding for people with
Law Enforcement Torch Run® intellectual disabilities.
For Special Olympics this is the largest
grassroots fundraising and public
Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia
3rd Floor Morrison Chambers
32 Nassau Street
Dublin 2 Ireland
Phone: +353 1 675 5710 Europe/Eurasia
Fax: +353 1 707 1748 www.specialolympics-eu.org Be a fan™ www.specialolympics-eu.org