The following is an excerpt from the Euronews article, “Sport, a lever for inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities” highlighting the participation of Special Olympics athletes, staff and leadership at the inaugural Special Olympics European Union Day on 24 and 25 September 2025 during the EU’s European Week of Sport.
On 25 September, athletes with intellectual disabilities competed in a bocce and table tennis Unified Sports Experience at the European Commission. Over the course of their time in Brussels, Special Olympics athletes also met with over 120 EU representatives and officials, pressing them to increase funding and policies for inclusion in sport, education, employment and healthcare.
The event, organised at the European Commission by Special Olympics, aims to promote the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in the EU.
“We are here to show the European Union that funds and policies are needed for greater inclusion, not only in sport, but also in education, employment and health services,” Bulgarian athlete Viktor Petrov Hristov told Euronews.
