Bold intro. Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia serves 500,000 athletes across Eastern Europe, Western Europe and Central Asia.
Unity Across the Region
SOEE works with half a million athletes in 58 countries across Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, providing 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 sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
There are approximately 26.5 million people with an intellectual disability in the Europe / Eurasia region.
Established in 1997 as part of the global Special Olympics community, SOEE plays and active role in supporting the development of the 58 national programmes in the region, assisting them to become better known, better funded and more successful in both expanding and improving sports opportunities and other initiatives for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Initiatives include Healthy Athletes, Athlete Leadership Programme, Family Support Network and SO Get Into It.
Advocacy
We also undertake a number of key additional roles, which include serving as an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities, taking responsibility for European level competitions and establishing European level partnerships.
SOEE is part of the Special Olympics family that works with 2.5 million people across the world supported by 1.5 million volunteers and 3 million family members.
SOEE is headquartered in Dublin Ireland with staff also working in offices in Brussels and Warsaw. Click here for a list of SOEE Staff Directory.
Mary Davis is the Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia.
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions on SOEE.