At the initiative of the International Special Olympics, Bosnian Special Olympics was established 1997, and has been re-registered 06.06.2006 as the Special Olympics in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since the beginning, competitions at the state level have been held every year in indoor football, athletics, basketball, swimming, table tennis, bowling and skiing, and the largest sporting event under the Special Olympics are the “Friendship Games of Southeast Europe” which were held in four cities of Sarajevo, Tuzla, Mostar and Banja Luka, which were also attended by Ms Kennedy Shriver. To this date, more than 70 associations and institutions such as clubs of special sports, daycare centres, primary and secondary schools, universities and government institutions are engaged in SOBiH activities.

By organizing competitions as well as the accompanying training, education and health programs, we will facilitate the awareness that the competitions of people with intellectual disabilities require training according to the rules of sports, including the promotion of the rights of people with disabilities. In addition to organizing competitions, the implementation of this project will strengthen the capacity of all organizations in the form of shared knowledge and practice will also get educated parents, judges, volunteers.

Most importantly, we will increase the number of members involved in sports activities in associations, special schools’ daycare centres and institutes. We expect special results in the implementation of the project of including children with intellectual disabilities in sports activities through participation in competitions, through the organization of European Football Week, European Basketball Week, Special Olympics Friendly Competition where we will include a large number of children and youth without intellectual disabilities on the principles of UNIFIED SPORT or INCLUSIVE SPORTS ACTIVITIES, as well as in many other activities listed in the project.

The Icelandic Sport federation for disabled (IF) was established 1979. Located in House of Sport in Laugardalur, Iceland, along with most sports federations of Iceland, IF is registered as a National Sport federation for disabled in Iceland under the umbrella of the National and Olympics Sport Organization in Iceland (ISI).

All IF´s athletes have to be registered in special sport clubs for the disabled or in mainstream clubs within ISI (The National Sport & Olympics Organization in Iceland). IF´s office has three staff members, including National Director SO Iceland, General Secretary, NPC Iceland. Other team members are volunteers.

The key role of IF is to organize sports for disabled in Iceland and to represent Iceland at events abroad, as umbrella for all disability sport in Iceland. The role of IF is as well to work on education, coach training, recruiting, developing new sports, providing advice and support to athletes, students, teachers, coaches, communities, Sport clubs, university & schools etc. IF is leading special projects for target groups, sport, schools, students, clubs, society etc.

IF is a member of the Special Olympics International movement and the International Olympics Committee, with SO Iceland and the National Paralympic Committee of Iceland sharing the same office. Iceland is leading the nordic SO committee since 2013. Some projects are combined as IF´s national events for all disability groups. NPC Iceland is leading preparation process of elite athlete participation internationally as European & World Champ/Paralympics. This system has been a very successful and it has been positive for Iceland to keep all sport for disabled athletes under one umbrella.

In this project, Special Olympics Iceland will be the first Special Olympics Program to pilot and evaluate the new training resources developed internationally by Special Olympics. Sports coach training in Iceland is of a very high standard and they are experts in the delivery of this training in inclusive settings. The piloting and evaluation of the Implementation Guide in Iceland will ensure that high quality training is passed onto the beneficiary partners in the project in the next phase. Special Olympics Iceland will work with their local research partner at Reykjavik University and the project partner, Poznan University, to conduct the necessary evaluation.

Special Olympics Lithuania (Lithuanian Special Olympics committee) is a non-governmental organization which is working under the integration of people with intellectual disabilities into the sport and other related activities. SO Lithuania is accredited program of Special Olympics international and have a right to participate in international Special Olympics events, championships and World summer and winter games.  SO Lithuania is a member of International organization of„Special Olympics“ since 1989.

We are proud that our national selection teams in different sports such as bocce, football, swimming, rowing, athletics, snowshoeing and others are showing great result participating in Special Olympics World games.

Special Olympics Lithuania is uniting all country to work together to integrate people with intellectual disabilities into the sport activities. People can choose most fitting sports and programs to join in and be part of the movement. Being a member of a unified Lithuanian sports federation we are constantly organizing various sports events, championships, summer camps. On a yearly basis, we organize around 30 national level sports events with around 1800 participants. Also, we regularly organize seminars for sports coaches and provides opportunities for better qualifications.

We are working mainly under two project branches: national and international. National projects are applied at the Lithuanian ministry of Education, science and sport and international projects which are funded by the Special Olympics international and Special Olympics Europe Eurasia. Now we are managing Youth leaders, Athlete leaders, 3×3 basketball and Erasmus basketball project, Young Athletes project, CRT Grant project.

Special Olympics Montenegro is nonprofit organization and accreditation national program of Special Olympics International as a part of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia region.

The main goals of SOMNE are:

Work with people with intellectual disabilities and help them participate as productive and respected members of society, offering them a fair opportunity to develop and improve their physical, social, mental, intellectual skills and talents through sports trainings and competitions, their socialization and integration into society and acceptance by society; stimulating public awareness, providing support to parents of athletes through organizinig family forums with deferent topics, developing and encouraging public support by teachers, schools,organization, corporation and public institutions; participation in international competitions, tournaments, European and World Special Olympics Summer and Winter Games.

Since January 2021, the Special Olympics of Montenegro is part of a consortium consisting of 6 European countries, involved in the project “Inclusion through sport for children with disabilities.” Through this project, SO Montenegro provides sports trainings and competition for children with disabilities aged 6-12, educates experienced and new coaches to work with them and organizes family health forums for parents, during the three years of the project, until December 2023.

The mission of Special Olympics Romania is to integrate people with intellectual disabilities from all over the country in its movement. Special Olympics Romania seeks, since its establishment in 2003, to reach each person with intellectual disabilities and their families through competitions, courses, health assessments, fundraising events and sustainable solutions to increase the employability of adults with intellectual disabilities. Over 27,000 children, young people and adults with intellectual disabilities have been helped by Special Olympics Romania in the 18 years since its establishment to be active citizens of the community. Special Olympics is an experience that instils energy, health, self-confidence and the joy of living.

Special Olympics encourages year-round sports training and organizes sports competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities (15 of the 24 sports practiced worldwide). Special Olympics Romania Foundation carries out educational projects in schools and unified activities (young people with and without disabilities) and helps through training and advocacy (awareness events) to the social integration and employment of adults with intellectual disabilities. SOR also offering health assessments, programs for families and early motor initiation for children under 8 years of age.

Role in the Project:

Through the NF project is the goal to gain and inform as much young families with young children with ID as possible during this pandemic time about sport and benefits from sports and healthy lifestyles. Also thank to the grand we can offer a new sport Basketball to new upcoming young athletes. Focusing on young athletes is important task of today and keep them interested is our goal for the future.

Vision:

Special Olympics is not just about sports. Special Olympics is a worldwide movement of understanding and inspiration. The Philosophy of Special Olympics is based on the belief that every person with intellectual disability has the same chance for development of his/her personality as a healthy individual.

Integration and social interaction strengthened the athlete´s sense of pride and success. Special Olympics Slovakia supports athletes and their families on the sport´s field but also outside of it. Special Olympics is trying to bury stereotypes in thinking of people with intellectual disabilities, promotes public health ideas and actively integrates group of people to society.

The vision of Special Olympics is to help bring Special Olympics Slovakia athletes into the larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted and given the chance to become useful and productive citizens through human qualities they all have in themselves just we need to give them opportunity to try and show it.

Mission:

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Strategic Aim:

Our role is to communicate and coordinate the sport activities on national level. To raise funds. We organize sport competitions and send athletes to participate on international level too. The Special Olympics Program is the most comprehensive program supporting the development of personality, integration and emotional needs of people with intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympics Slovakia brings together more than thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities who perform sport in more than 100 clubs, schools and Day Care Centres. We organize 18 National Championships yearly and also educate athletes, family members, volunteer and partners.

The SO Europe Eurasia Foundation is a registered European not-for-profit entity which supports the activities of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia (SOEE) and it was established in 2009.

Its primary role is to source funding for SOEE annual activities that provide high quality international, national and local sporting opportunities to enhance and improve the health of people with intellectual disabilities (ID), whilst also reducing health inequalities among this vulnerable section of society.

SOEE is also focused on developing projects (Young Athletes, Unified Sports, Athlete Leadership, Transitional Sports) that encourage people with ID to participate as citizens in their communities and on the sports field.

SOEE is involved in the development and implementation of regional cooperation through our projects/sports competitions while promoting awareness to the public of the value of social inclusion. https://www.specialolympics.org/.

The Icelandic Sport federation for disabled (IF) was established 1979. Located in House of Sport in Laugardalur, Iceland, along with most sports federations of Iceland, IF is registered as a National Sport federation for disabled in Iceland under the umbrella of the National and Olympics Sport Organization in Iceland (ISI).

All IF´s athletes have to be registered in special sport clubs for the disabled or in mainstream clubs within ISI (The National Sport & Olympics Organization in Iceland). IF´s office has three staff members, including National Director SO Iceland, General Secretary, NPC Iceland. Other team members are volunteers.

The key role of IF is to organize sports for disabled in Iceland and to represent Iceland at events abroad, as umbrella for all disability sport in Iceland. The role of IF is as well to work on education, coach training, recruiting, developing new sports, providing advice and support to athletes, students, teachers, coaches, communities, Sport clubs, university & schools etc. IF is leading special projects for target groups, sport, schools, students, clubs, society etc.

IF is a member of the Special Olympics International movement and the International Olympics Committee, with SO Iceland and the National Paralympic Committee of Iceland sharing the same office. Iceland is leading the nordic SO committee since 2013. Some projects are combined as IF´s national events for all disability groups. NPC Iceland is leading preparation process of elite athlete participation internationally as European & World Champ/Paralympics. This system has been a very successful and it has been positive for Iceland to keep all sport for disabled athletes under one umbrella.

In this project, Special Olympics Iceland will be the first Special Olympics Program to pilot and evaluate the new training resources developed internationally by Special Olympics. Sports coach training in Iceland is of a very high standard and they are experts in the delivery of this training in inclusive settings. The piloting and evaluation of the Implementation Guide in Iceland will ensure that high quality training is passed onto the beneficiary partners in the project in the next phase. Special Olympics Iceland will work with their local research partner at Reykjavik University and the project partner, Poznan University, to conduct the necessary evaluation.

The Poznan University of Physical Education, which nurtures future physical education teachers, sports coaches and trainers, physiotherapists, tourism and recreation specialists, is the oldest Sports University in Poland and the third oldest such institution in Europe following Physical Education Chairs in Ghent and Copenhagen. It has its roots in the tradition of the Chair of School Hygiene and Physical Education Theory which was established at newly founded Poznań University in 1919.

The Chair was organised and headed for many years by Professor Eugeniusz Piasecki, the creator of Polish school of thought on physical education. In 1922 the Chair became part of the Poznań University Medical School as the Department of Physical Education, and in 1950 it was transformed into the Higher School of Physical Education.

In 1968 the university gained the right to award doctoral degrees in physical culture sciences and in 1993 it obtained the right to grant habilitation (post-doctoral recognition of excellence in research) in the same field. Since 2013 the Faculty of Physical Education, Sport and Rehabilitation has been authorised to award doctoral degree in health sciences.

The scholars at the University of Physical Education in Poznań combine academic achievements expressed by publications in high-ranking journals with coaching work preparing leading athletes to participate in major sporting events. Throughout its nearly 100 years of history the university has educated many world-class athletes who excelled in their disciplines winning medals at Olympic Games and World Championships.

The university conducts both scientific and implementation research projects and collaborates with numerous international research teams and scientific centres.

The Poznan University of Physical Education is one of the most frequently chosen institutions by students seeking higher education in sports universities in Poland. Currently, nearly four thousand undergraduates are studying in three Faculties with available majors in Physical Education, Sport, Tourism and Recreation, Physiotherapy, Human Nutrition, Neurobiology, Dance in Physical Culture.Additionally, the university offers postgraduate studies, coaching and instructing courses as well as training classes at two levels: general and specialist. The University employs in the region of 520 academic staff.