Page 27 - Danir_Arsbok2023_ENG_DiPDF

27
S PECIAL OLYMPI C S SWEDEN
More than sport.
Special Olympics Sweden is part of the Swedish
Parasport Federation and we offer a wide range
of sports and recreational activities for people
with intellectual disabilities. Our aim is to offer
everyone the chance of an active life, regardless of
their intellectual ability. To achieve this, we arrange and ambassador activities – activated 550 children
regional, national and international sporting events.
We drive the debate on the benefits of inclusion.
And we support clubs and associations with both the
knowledge and tools they need to develop activities
for the target group. Special Olympics Sweden has
over 10,000 active athletes.
AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY BENEFITS EVERYONE
Our organisation is founded on social sustainability.
We believe in an inclusive society in which sport
develops people with intellectual disabilities and
strengthens their self-belief, both as athletes and
as people. We are convinced that sport is the best
route to improved health and happiness, by offering
everyone opportunities to enjoy meaningful leisure
activities and the chance to do their best based on
their circumstances. Quite simply, we believe in a
sporting movement that embraces more people.
However, our purpose is more far-reaching:
through sport, we can change society as a whole.
We create the conditions for people with intellec-
tual disabilities to participate in several arenas. Our sponsor of Special Olympics Sweden. Sigma has been
work has a ripple effect; helping to make society
more accessible for people with intellectual disabili-
ties is not only good for the target group, but
for everyone.
THE YEAR IN BRIEF
Special Olympics Sweden has had an eventful
2023. Special Olympics School Days, events held
at schools for pupils with intellectual disabilities,
have activated over 2,000 children and youths,
Our involvement | DANIR 2023
and almost 300 upper-secondary pupils have been
trained to lead these activities.
Special Olympics Day – a major event with oppor-
tunities to try different sports, visitor programmes
and adults with intellectual disabilities.
“ Helping to make society more
accessible for people with
intellectual disabilities is not
only good for the target group,
but for everyone.”
The highpoint of the year was the Special Olympics
World Games Berlin 2023, which attracted 7,000
athletes and 3,000 leaders from around the world,
including 41 Swedish competitors. The games offered
many moments of sporting joy and community. Pres-
ent were 90 family members who alternated seminar-
ies with cheering on the athletes from the sidelines.
We were also accompanied by 30 representatives
of the business community, hospitality industry and
the sports movement keen to follow the progress of
Special Olympics Sweden.
One of the stakeholders in attendance was Sigma,
which recently extended its agreement as main
and remains an important part of the ongoing devel-
opment of Special Olympics Sweden. An evaluation
of the organisation was conducted during the year
and the focus is now firmly on the future. Part of our
journey of development is the preparation of new and
exciting concepts for sporting activity and inclusion.
WEB
specialolympics.se