Special Olympics World Summer Games: from Athens to Los Angeles

This summer, 7.000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from all the world met in Greece. They took part in the World Special Olympics. Special Olympics is a competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities. It happens every 4 years. The next one will take place in Los Angeles in the summer of 2015.

This summer, more than 7.000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from all over the world met in Athens for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Next host site will be Los Angeles in summer 2015, while in the meantime the Winter Special Olympics will take place in 2013 in Korea.

“I think we’re home”. With these words, the chairman and CEO of Special Olympics, Dr Timothy P. Shriver, welcomed the participating athletes and the excited spectators of Special Olympics World Summer Games ATHENS 2011 in Kallimarmaron Panathinaikon Olympic Stadium. Indeed, it couldn’t feel differently, since this was also the place where the first Olympic Games were held. Despite the challenge of the economic crisis that Greece is currently facing, it could not but warmly embrace the chance to host this year’s summer organisation of Special Olympics between 25 June and 4 July. More than 7.000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from nearly 180 nations, including more than 1.350 athletes and 1.152 coaches from Europe/Eurasia, participated in the event demonstrating courage, showing their skills and developing friendships from all over the world.

The first day of Special Olympics opened under the melody of Stevie Wonder’s voice, while other famous Greek and international artists offered the audience remarkable performances. The Hellenic Republic President ‘s speech accompanied the parade of Olympic medallists Pyros Dimas, Nadia Comaneci, Edwin Moses, Michelle Kwan and others, who carried the Special Olympics flag in the stadium. Members of Special Olympics Team Hellas and Special Olympics Team USA lead the athletes in the Special Olympics athlete oath and finally the Flame of Hope was run through the stadium.

During the 10 days of the Special Olympics, athletes competed in 22 Olympic-type sports including: Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Bocce, Bowling, Cycling, Equestrian, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Judo, Kayaking, Powerlifting, Roller Skating, Sailing, Softball, Table Tennis, Tennis and Volleyball. All sport delegations stayed at the Special Olympic Village, located at a seaside township 30 minutes from the city of Athens.

Faithful to the aims of Special Olympics, to change the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through the power of sports, empower their skills and promote respect and equality; the emblem of the Special Olympics World Summer Games ATHENS 2011 is a radiant sun. The sun which underlines the excellence and the power of the athlete, who takes part in the games, and spreads hope, joy, energy, warmth and strength. In these terms, Apollon – the god of Sun according to Greek mythology - became the official mascot of the Special Olympics World Summer Games Athens 2011.

Special Olympics festival

In the framework of Special Olympics, a Festival was also taking place with each of Special Olympics seven world regions: Africa, Pacific Asia, East Asia, Europe/Eurasia, Latin America, Middle East/North Africa and North America. Some of the major aims of the festival were to underline the importance of culture in international relations, to indicate the uniqueness of each region and to develop interaction and communication among people who belong yo different cultures. To this end, a great variety of activities were organised, such as cultural events with different embassies introducing the tradition of their countries, dancing performances, concerts, photograph exhibitions and other spectacles.

The next stops of World Special Olympics

Few months after the completion of Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece, on the 15^th of September, Special Olympics International announced that Pyeongchang, Korea, will be the host site for the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games are expected to attract more than 2.500 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 105 nations to compete in 7 Olympic-type winter sports.

As for the next Special Olympics World Summer Games, they are going to take place again in 4 years in Los Angeles. In the summer of 2015, Special Olympics World Summer Games will return to the United States after 16 years, as they were last held in North Carolina in 1999.