Special Olympics

There are no tap outs here, just mat-cushioned hard knocks! On today’s episode of #NovieKnows, Novie learns the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu from brown belt and #SpecialOlympics colleague RJ Nealon and black belt Mike Mehl at Conquest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA. Class is in session for this two-part episode! 📺: https://brnw.ch/21x2XsM ADAPTIVE TRAINING FOUNDATION | International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation #ChooseToInclude

🤝 Gemeinsam auf dem Weg nach 2029. Mit grosser Freude begrüssen wir Raiffeisen Gruppe als Offizielle Partnerin der Special Olympics World Winter Games Switzerland 2029. Der Handschlag zwischen Bruno Barth, Präsident von Switzerland 2029, und Gabriel Brenna, CEO Raiffeisen, steht für eine Partnerschaft, die weit über den Sport hinausgeht: für Begegnungen, die verbinden, für gelebten Zusammenhalt und für das gemeinsame Engagement, Menschen zusammenzubringen. Die Special Olympics World Winter Games Switzerland 2029 werden Athletinnen und Athleten aus über 100 Ländern in die Schweiz führen. Gemeinsam mit starken Partnerinnen wie Raiffeisen schaffen wir die Voraussetzungen für unvergessliche Momente, neue Begegnungen und nachhaltige Wirkung in der ganzen Schweiz. Herzlichen Dank an Raiffeisen für das Vertrauen und die gemeinsame Reise Richtung 2029. #Switzerland2029 #SpecialOlympics #Raiffeisen #WorldWinterGames #Begegnungen #Zusammenhalt #Gemeinsam2029

If you can't grapple with Novie becoming a Brazilian jiu-jitsu professional, this episode isn't for you. She's hitting the mat at Conquest Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness for her first lesson with brown belt and Special Olympics colleague RJ Nealon and black belt Mike Mehl. Catch part one this Saturday on #NovieKnows! ADAPTIVE TRAINING FOUNDATION | International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation #ChooseToInclude

The countdown is on for the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup, and media registration is officially OPEN! ⚽🌍 We invite journalists and media professionals worldwide to apply for accreditation and help share powerful stories of inclusion and unforgettable competition. For questions or assistance: 📧 nnelson@specialolympics.org 📧 cweir@specialolympics.org To register, visit: https://brnw.ch/21x2VJj Special Olympics France | Special Olympics Europe Eurasia | Special Olympics Latin America | Special Olympics MENA | Special Olympics Asia Pacific | Special Olympics Africa | Special Olympics East Asia #SpecialOlympics #ChooseToInclude #Paris2026UFWC Le compte à rebours a commencé pour la Coupe du monde de football unifié des Special Olympics, et les inscriptions pour les médias sont officiellement OUVERTES ! ⚽🌍 Nous invitons les journalistes et les professionnels des médias du monde entier à demander leur accréditation et à contribuer à faire connaître ces histoires fortes d'inclusion et cette compétition inoubliable. Pour toute question ou assistance: 📧 nnelson@specialolympics.org 📧 cweir@specialolympics.org Pour vous inscrire, rendez-vous sur : https://brnw.ch/21x2VJj #SpecialOlympics #ChooseToInclude #Paris2026UFWC

“𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙪𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙡, 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙚, 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩.” — 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗼 ���𝗜𝗩 AI is booming. But is it biased? Through an extensive research paper conducted by our data science team, #SpecialOlympics has found that AI chat systems contain implicit negative bias directed toward persons with intellectual disabilities. This bias presents a significant risk to the communities we serve.   But what if bias could be detected before AI systems shape decisions, services, or policy? Mitigating these biases could prevent future social harm to vulnerable populations, including Special Olympics athletes. As AI rapidly becomes part of our daily lives, now is the time to address “automated ableism” and ensure AI models serve everybody, equitably. Read our research paper in Disability and Health Journal here: 🔗https://brnw.ch/21x2UK3 #ChooseToInclude #AIbias #InclusiveTech Elsevier

🤝 Last night reminded us why sport is one of the most powerful global forces for diplomacy. Special Olympics was proud to co-host the 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝘿𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙮: 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 event in Washington DC alongside Embassy of France in the United States in an evening that brought together Special Olympics Athlete Leaders, government leaders, ambassadors, and supporters united by a belief in the power of inclusion. Damien Combredet-Blassel, French Ambassador for Sport, and David Evangelista, CEO of Special Olympics, sat down for a fireside chat that explored how inclusive sport strengthens diplomacy, advances international collaboration, and builds more inclusive communities worldwide — powers that will be on full display in July at the #SpecialOlympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026. #PlayUnified #ChooseToInclude #Paris2026UFWC Special Olympics France | Special Olympics Europe Eurasia |

As Healthy Vision Month wraps up, we’re looking back at some of the remarkable health leaders who are advancing inclusive health for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). 𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆𝗲 𝗞𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗹, an optometrist and Clinical Director for Special Olympics Wisconsin, and an honoree of the 2025 Global B. Thomas Golisano Foundation Health Leadership Awards, has helped expand access to inclusive vision care around the world. Since the start of the Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Foundation Opening Eyes® screening program at Special Olympics Wisconsin in 2001, Dr. Knueppel has: 👁️ Overseen 9,300+ Opening Eyes ® screenings 👓 Delivered 8,000+ pairs of glasses 📚 Trained hundreds of healthcare professionals, students, and Clinical Directors 🔗 Learn more about Dr. Knueppel’s story: https://brnw.ch/21x2TVa #InclusiveHealth #HealthyVisionMonth

The first Special Olympics MENA Regional Unified Coach Training brought athlete leaders and coaches together to build skills in gymnastics, equestrian, and MATP to prepare athletes to become assistant coaches, mentors, and role models in their communities. Learn more: https://brnw.ch/21x2SV9 Join us as a part of the United Nations International Year of Volunteers and get involved today: https://brnw.ch/21x2SV8 #AthleteLeadership #ChooseToInclude #IVY26

What began as a volunteer experience in the audiology discipline of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® grew into a commitment to expanding access to quality health screenings and improving health outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). 👂 In an interview with The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) LeaderLive, Denise Cardona shares how her experience as a Special Olympics Healthy Hearing volunteer as a student provided her with the passion and foundational skills to provide audiology care for patients with ID. Today, Denise serves as the Senior Clinical Program Manager for Healthy Hearing, helping to oversee the discipline programming globally. 🔗 Read the full story to learn about Denise’s journey and how audiology students and professionals can get involved: https://brnw.ch/21x2SAs #InclusiveHealth #ChooseToInclude