As we step into 2025, I’m stuffed with gratitude and pleasure for the essential street forward. This yr holds immense promise for the Particular Olympics Europe Eurasia (SOEE) area and the broader motion as we strengthen our influence and reaffirm our dedication to inclusive improvement for people with mental and developmental disabilities (IDD).
On the coronary heart of our calendar are the Particular Olympics World Winter Video games Turin 2025, going down from 8 – 15 March. Over 1,500 athletes from greater than 100 nations will showcase their skills throughout eight sports activities whereas amplifying a definitive message of grit, braveness, focus, and solidarity. Turin will host not solely the World Winter Video games for Particular Olympics; they are going to stage a world celebration of inclusion and the facility of the human spirit to transcend variations.
SOEE is proud to have fun the 25th Anniversary of European Soccer Week, a testomony to the enduring energy of the world’s hottest sport to unite, encourage, empower. Since its inception, European Soccer Week has introduced collectively gamers of all talents, nationwide soccer federations, soccer golf equipment, company sponsors, civil society teams and plenty of extra to problem stereotypes and spotlight the attain and scope of our grass roots programming, in shut partnership with UEFA.
The latter a part of the yr will see a regional and world first: the celebration of the Particular Olympics World Unified Volleyball Cup in Katowice, Poland, set to happen from 4 – 9 October 2025. That includes 20 female and male groups from around the globe, the occasion will work to each strengthen the motion’s sport improvement and increase the participation in probably the most widespread Particular Olympics sports activities in Europe and the world.
Picture by Adam Nurkiewicz/� Adam Nurkiewicz / Mediasport
Advancing Training Via Sport
The yr begins on a powerful notice as His Majesty’s Authorities of Gibraltar turns into the most recent European nation to ratify its dedication to the Particular Olympics International Coalition for Inclusion. This milestone reinforces a collective pledge by European nations to foster inclusive schooling by sport from an early age, making inclusion part of the educational journey of all college students. By nurturing environments the place college students of all talents be taught and develop collectively, we’re shaping a era of inclusive leaders in colleges, in communities, in nations around the globe.
We’re deeply grateful to the Stavros Niarchos Basis (SNF) for his or her unwavering assist in advancing this essential initiative. As well as, we thank SNF for his or her deep dedication to supporting the regional and world growth of our Unified Champion Faculties work, in addition to strengthening the power of Particular Olympics to situation robust Thought Management messaging to underscore the urgency of our mission and world focus.
In parallel, we proceed empowering youth leaders—with and with out mental disabilities—by our sustained give attention to the growth of Unified Champion Faculties programming. Via the outstanding management of Program leaders, lecturers, college students, coaches and volunteers alike, hundreds of faculties across the area will remodel themselves into hubs of acceptance, innovation, and collaboration. Sports activities stay the catalytic ingredient.
Strengthening Partnerships
SOEE needs to increase its heartfelt because of one of many motion’s largest and most world companions: Lions Golf equipment Worldwide Basis (LCIF). Via the robust assist of the Basis, and numerous Lions and Leo volunteers, the Particular Olympics—LCIF ‘Mission: Inclusion’ partnership continues to make strides. From imaginative and prescient care screenings to inclusive sports activities to refugee assist to household schooling, to the Motor Exercise Coaching Program (MATP), the area salutes the management and dedication of Lions Golf equipment Worldwide and the Basis for his or her long-standing assist.
Thanks additionally to our regional companions, together with Toyota Motor Europe and UPS Basis, whose assist allows us to increase our attain and maintain very important packages. We stay most grateful for the chance to share in such shut cooperation as we convey our shared Unified work to an increasing number of communities throughout the area. The dedication made by so many company volunteers motivates our athletes, households, coaches, and motion to coach tougher, cheer louder.
In 2025, we look ahead to deepening our engagement with the European Union below its new management and path. As a trusted implementing companion, we are going to proceed advancing excellence in sports activities, well being and health, social safety, and worldwide improvement in collaboration with the European Union and the European Fee. Our 2025 platform incudes sturdy collaboration with a variety of key United Nations companions, together with however not restricted to UNICEF Europe, the United Nations Inhabitants Fund (UNFPA), the UN Refugee company, UNESCO and extra—all designed to make sure the total achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Improvement Targets on behalf of people with IDD.
We’re wanting to jumpstart new collaborations with a variety of rising companions who’ve dedicated to supporting the imaginative and prescient of our athletes, from the Botnar Basis to Rexona, and others. Particular Olympics is grateful for the robust consideration of present and new companions alike to assist convey our motion to life in enjoying fields, colleges, clinics and communities all through Europe Eurasia.
Increasing Well being and Refugee Initiatives
We’ll proceed to prioritize the well being and well-being of our athletes by specializing in prevention packages, well being assessments, and coaching healthcare professionals. We’ll preserve empowering athletes, their households, and different stakeholders to steer community-wide initiatives that promote inclusive well being and drive systemic change for folks with mental disabilities.
Our Wholesome Athletes® and Wholesome Communities platforms stay a cornerstone of our mission. Since their launch, they’ve supplied over 2 million free well being screenings and skilled practically 300,000 well being professionals and college students to raised serve folks with mental disabilities around the globe. In 2025, this platform will develop additional, with Wholesome Athletes® screenings deliberate on the World Winter Video games in Turin and throughout the area, and Wholesome Group initiatives in over 40 SOEE Packages all year long.
The area needs to thank the European Fee’s DG Sante, the Golisano Basis, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Basis, Safilo S.p.A., Lions Golf equipment Worldwide Basis and a variety of extra companions for supporting our shared dedication of inclusive well being for all, in all places.
Moreover, we’re amplifying initiatives reminiscent of Unified with Refugees, supported by the UN Refugee Company, Lions Golf equipment Worldwide Basis, ESPN, On Sneakers and plenty of extra. This program makes use of the transformative energy of sport to unite communities, together with two of the world’s most marginalized teams: refugees and folks with mental disabilities.
Supporting Programme Development
Additionally, this yr will spotlight as soon as once more the relentless dedication of the 58 Packages that make up Particular Olympics Europe Eurasia. From small communities to massive cities, Packages are the spine of our motion, driving change, producing elevated consciousness and creating alternatives for athletes and their households. Their laborious work and fervour stay essentially the most essential element to our world motion and its native utility.
As we glance forward, we are going to proceed to have fun the achievements of our athletes, assist their improvement, increase our initiatives, and strengthen our partnerships with governments, sports activities federations, the event group, philanthropic leaders and company companions. We’ll advocate for insurance policies and practices that foster inclusion whereas deepening our dedication to well being, schooling, and community-building by sport. Most of all, we are going to do all of this in shut collaboration with each other.
To each athlete, volunteer, companion, medical volunteer, trainer, and supporter: thanks for being a part of this extraordinary journey.
Right here’s to 2025—a yr of unity, influence, and boundless prospects.
That is Particular Olympics.
