Special Olympics Gibraltar ready to represent Gibraltar at World Games

The Special Olympics Gibraltar team head to Berlin where they will be looking to continue their successful achievements representing Gibraltar on the international stage at the World Summer Games, the largest inclusive sports event of its kind.
With just days to go before the World Summer Games kicks off in Berlin, Special Olympics Gibraltar (SOG) were making last minute preparations for the challenges that lie ahead. Twenty-seven athletes depart from the Rock this Monday to Munich where they will spend a few days acclimatizing in the towns of Oberhaching and Taufkirchen before moving on to Berlin on June 15, for the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium on June 17.
“The team will be representing Gibraltar in eight sports, including cycling for the first time, and have been hard in training for several months now. They will be accompanied by their coaches and numerous family members who are making the trip in support of the team. The Games, which are billed as the World’s largest inclusive sporting event, will involve around 7,000 athletes from 190 nations, who will be participating in 26 different sports,” said officials.
“Most of the athletes are being sponsored by various local firms, who are generously helping cover the extensive costs incurred by SOG and who will be avidly following the progress of their athletes. There will be extensive coverage of the Games worldwide, in particular on TV by ESPN, and we will be providing frequent updates here including results.”
The Special Olympics World Games are the world’s largest inclusive sports event. Thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities compete together in 26 sports. Organisers expect nine days of exciting and inspiring competitions, by athletes and for athletes.
The Special Olympics World Games will take place in Berlin – the first time that Germany will host the Games. The event starting with an opening ceremony which will see the Flame of Hope arrive at the opening ceremony to lit the start of the games, and will finish on the 25 June 2023.
Just eight days ago, on June 7, the Special Olympics Flame of Hope was lit by a high priestess in Athens, Greece, in a solemn ceremony at the historic temple Zappeion Megaron. Much in the same way as the Olympics. The flame is now making its journey to the Opening Ceremony at Olympiastadion to arrive on the 17 June.
The Flame of Hope “is one of the most important symbols of the Games and stands above all for peace, unity and hope. Before the official start, the flame is traditionally lit in a colorful ceremony in Athens, and this is also the case for the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023.”
The support behind the Special Olympics Gibraltar team was once again brought to the forefront when on the same day Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo hosted a tea reception at the Special Olympics Sports Complex to express his best wishes to the athletes representing Gibraltar. The Chief Minister was presented with a signed Special Olympics Gibraltar shirt.
The reception also saw Minister for Sport Stephen Linares and Minister for Equality Samantha Sacramento present as the Government signalled its support. The latter is expected to be travelling to Berlin where the team will be led out in the opening ceremony.
The team has been gathering support to travel to Berlin with numerous companies and sponsors putting their name behind the team.
Gibraltar’s Special Olympics teams have in the past brought much celebration when competing internationally with numerous medals to their name. Well planned training programmes, with support from volunteers and organisations from across various sports have seen athletes prepared during the past months, once again providing a platform for another successful venture unto the international stage.
We wish Special Olympics Gibraltar team the very best.