United Special Olympics gives athletes a chance to find new goals, says Slutsker

The United Special Olympics gives athletes the opportunity to set new goals and make life more fulfilling, said tournament chair Olga Slutsker.

The Special Olympiad was held from January 22 to 26 in Kazan. In the capital of Tatarstan, more than two thousand athletes and team representatives competed in 18 sports (10 summer, 8 winter), 387 sets of medals were played. For the first time, summer and winter sports competitions took place within the same tournament.

— United Games is our great joint success and an important step forward both for the inclusive community in Russia and for society as a whole. People with intellectual disabilities deserve a happy and fulfilling life. Our games are not ordinary competitions, they are a celebration of love and kindness. We strive to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, and they share with us their purity and sincerity. We will all remember this sporting event for the rest of our lives.

No wonder all of us athletes feel great unity, affection, respect. This world is very clean and bright. I believe in the magic power of sport, in its healthy grain. United games give special athletes and their families a chance to find new goals, to make life more fulfilling and harmonious.

Special athletes coaches and their parents are full of love, faith and pride for their children, it is worthy of respect and admiration,” said the Organizing Committee of the United Games of the Special Olympics of Russia, citing Slutsker.

Special Olympics events were covered in news releases. The broadcast of the opening ceremony on the channel was followed by more than two million viewers.