Special Olympics Europe Eurasia (SOEE) and the European
Broadcasting Union (EBU) have agreed to form a ground-breaking new partnership that seeks to
further propel media coverage of athletes with intellectual disabilities to a global audience.
With two upcoming Special Olympics World Games taking place in Europe in the next three years,
the Special Olympics World Winter Games Kazan 2022 (Kazan Games) and Special Olympics World
Games Berlin 2023, the partnership launch comes at an opportune time for the Special Olympics
movement. The partnership will open up increased news coverage opportunities for the Special
Olympics movement among the EBU’s vast membership of public service media organisations –
giving athletes with intellectual disabilities and their achievements increased visibility.
The EBU is the world’s leading alliance of public service media. It counts 115 member organisations
in 56 European countries with an additional 33 Associates in Asia, Africa, Australia, and the
Americas. EBU Members operate nearly 2,000 television, radio, and online channels and services,
and offer a wealth of content across other platforms. Together they reach an audience of more than
one billion people around the world, broadcasting in more than 160 languages.
With more than six million athletes and Special Olympics Unified Sports® partners (athletes without
intellectual disabilities) in over 190 countries and territories and more than one million coaches and
volunteers, Special Olympics deliver more than 30 Olympics-type sports and over 100,000 games
and competitions every year. SOEE is active in 58 countries, stretching across the continent from the
west coast of Ireland to the eastern tip of the Russian Federation.
The aim of the new media partnership is to open up more news coverage opportunities with media
to showcase the sporting talents of athletes and drive the inclusion message of Special Olympics.
"Our partnership with the EBU represents a significant opportunity to bring the message of our
athletes and movement to an ever greater, audience across the world," said David Evangelista,
President and Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia. "This opens up a new platform
for our movement, covering close to 90 nations globally, where our athletes’ experience and
achievements can be shared and celebrated with greater visibility. This is a powerful boost to our
European coverage potential as we look toward the 2022 Special Olympics World Winter Games in
Kazan and the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin. Thank you, EBU, for joining
our effort to bring inclusion the world over!"
Eurovision Sport Executive Director Glen Killane said: "We believe sport should be enjoyed by all – as
participants or fans. Thanks to our unique network of public service broadcasters, we will ensure
audiences throughout Europe are able to celebrate the achievements of the Special Olympics
athletes and spread the message of inclusion across the continent."
The International Sports Press Association is also a media impact partner of Special Olympics. It is
hoped the new partnership with the EBU will add yet more power to the storytelling efforts of the
Special Olympics movement.
The primary focus of the new partnership will be the upcoming Kazan Games. The Kazan Games
open on 22 January 2022, and will feature 2,000 Special Olympics athletes from over 100 countries
competing in seven sports. In June 2023, Berlin, Germany will welcome 7,000 Special Olympics
athletes and Unified Sports partners from 170 countries to compete in 24 sports.
About Special Olympics Europe Eurasia
Special Olympics in Europe Eurasia encompasses a diverse range of cultures, languages and customs
traversing 58 countries in Western, Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. From Iceland to
Israel, from Portugal to Russia, Special Olympics promotes respect, inclusion and human dignity for
people with intellectual disabilities through sports. There are close to 543,000 athletes with
intellectual disabilities in the Europe Eurasia region. The next two Special Olympics World Games –
World Winter Games 2022 in Kazan, Russia and World Summer Games 2023 in Berlin, Germany –
will take place in the Europe Eurasia region, bringing increased awareness and support for our
movement and increased visibility for our athletes and their message of inclusion.
About European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is the world’s foremost alliance of public service media
(PSM). Our mission is to make PSM indispensable.
We represent 115 media organizations in 56 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and
have an additional 33 Associates in Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Americas. Our Members operate
nearly 2,000 television and radio channels alongside numerous online platforms. Together, they
reach audiences of more than one billion people around the world, broadcasting in almost 160
languages.
We strive to secure a sustainable future for public service media, provide our Members with
world-class content from news to sports and music, and build on our founding ethos of solidarity
and co-operation to create a centre for learning and sharing.
Our sport department - Eurovision Sport - manages the media rights for 20 sports on behalf of EBU
Members, delivering over 30,000 hours of sport a year through agreements with 25 international
sports federations, including 30 European Championships and 30 World Championships.
Discover more about the EBU at www.ebu.ch
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