Special Olympics Africa > Message from the International Olympic Committee President

In 1918 Pierre de Coubertin wrote, “All sports for all people. This is surely a phrase that people will consider foolishly utopian. That prospect troubles me not at all. I have pondered and studied it at length, and know that it is correct and possible.”
It is “correct and possible”and I have personally seen Special Olympics contributing to Pierre de Coubertin’s vision for years. Now serving over 2 million athletes in more than 160 countries, their model of sport is best for the majority of people with intellectual disabilities.

Importantly, Special Olympics offers sports training and competition to all people with intellectual disabilities, regardless of ability levels. Additionally, Special Olympics actively promotes athlete leadership at all levels of the Movement and is educating
students around the world about the detriments of discrimination and the value of sport.

I encourage all members of the Olympic Family, governments and supporters of Olympism to learn more about Special Olympics and to support the activities of this organization.

Jacques Rogge
President, International
Olympic Committee

An athlete from Special Olympics Kenya receives his medal during their National Games.

The IOC and Disabled Sport

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the umbrella organization of the Olympic Movement and is responsible for supervising the organization of the Olympic Games and Winter Olympic Games. The IOC recognizes the following bodies as the international representative organizations for disabled sport:
Special Olympics—for athletes with intellectual disabilities
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) — primarily
serves athletes with physical disabilities*
International Committee of Sports for the Deaf
* The IPC is the international representative organization of elite sports for athletes with disabilities within the following six disability groups:
Amputee, Cerebral Palsy, Intellectual Disability,Visually Impaired,
Wheelchair and Les Autres.The International Sports Federation for
Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID), which is a member of
the IPC, serves only elite athletes with intellectual disabilities.While
INAS-FID offers an elite model of competition to those few athletes with intellectual disabilities who qualify, Special Olympics offers sport to all persons with intellectual disabilities, from those who could compete in INAS-FID events to those with severe and profound challenges.