Athletes, coaches and Special Olympics representatives played boccia and table tennis at the European Commission to promote further inclusion of people with disabilities during European Sports Week.

Brussels

Athletes with intellectual disabilities from across the European Union joined EU civil servants to participate in boccia and table tennis as part of European Sports Week. The event, organized by Special Olympics at the European Commission, was designed to foster inclusion and challenge persistent prejudices faced by people with intellectual disabilities.

Speakers at the event highlighted the ongoing challenges of stigma, isolation, and exploitation experienced by people with intellectual disabilities. The President of Special Olympics Europe and Eurasia emphasized the need for greater education and awareness to change perceptions and promote social integration. Over 20 million people in Europe are affected by intellectual disabilities.

Strengthening inclusion for people with disabilities through sports

For European Sports Week, athletes with intellectual disabilities from all over the EU and European civil servants try their hand at boccia and table tennis. The event, organised by Special Olympics at the European Commission, aims to promote the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in the EU. It's an opportunity to challenge persistent prejudices in sport and in society. People are scared, they don't know how to speak with special people and they think they are only kids, but we are human beings. We work, we go to school, we have friends. People with intellectual disabilities often face stigmatisation and isolation, warns the President of Special Olympics Europe and Eurasia. Regrettably, globally, it's the most underemployed, undereducated, the most unhealthy, regrettably the most trafficked, the most exploited, often the most abused. The plight facing people with intellectual disabilities is scandalous. In his view, the emphasis must be on education and awareness raising. Look around you, these people will go back to their offices and they'll have a different understanding of what intellectual disability is. Maybe it's intellectual ability, maybe it's different abilities. A lot of it has to do with that social education, that awareness raising, the proximity. Over 20 million people have intellectual disabilities in Europe.

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