European Union

Financial support from the European Union assists Special Olympics in improving the health and well-being of European citizens with intellectual disabilities. Since 2010 the European Union has given considerable funding to various sports, events, and Healthy Athletes programs across the member states.

Many major Special Olympics Games have benefited from EU funding. Events including the 2010 Special Olympics European Games in Warsaw, Poland, the 2014 Special Olympics European Games in Antwerp, Belgium, and the 2010 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece have all received considerable support from the European Union. The 2017 World Winter Games in Austria also received significant funding from the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme. Funds totaling €6.5 million were granted to Special Olympics, and the Games Organising Committee in Austria, to ensure the success of the event. The World Winter Games in Austria were one of the biggest sport and humanitarian events anywhere in the world in 2017 with more than 2,600 athletes representing 105 nations taking part. EU support played a major role in making the Special Olympics World Winter Games a success with the legacy impact from the event expected to deliver sustained awareness and support to Special Olympics development across the European Union in the years ahead.

People with intellectual disabilities have a 40% higher risk of developing secondary preventable health conditions. As well as having more specialised health care needs, they face greater difficulty accessing health care services, and health care professionals, compared to the wider general public. The European Union recognises that Special Olympics is Europe’s largest public health organisation and is dedicated to serving people with intellectual disabilities. It is currently giving generous support to the movement through a specialised four year grant totaling €641,000. Special Olympics Europe Eurasia serves the many health needs of people with intellectual disabilities in seven clinical disciplines. Read more here.

We have range of diverse stories and reports that bring to life the very real impact that EU funding has on our work in health. You can find some of these in the 'Related stories' and others in the list below.

• World Winter Games: A Victory for Humanity
• Getting Europe to #BeActive
• Healthy Athletes Prevalence Report 2016
• Healthy Athletes Program at Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017 in Austria

Note: The content of this web page represents the views of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia only and is our sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.