Special Olympics

Project location: ITALY, Marche
Project start date: December 2007 - Project end date: This project covers various years
Project number: 2007-10
Beneficiary: SPECIAL OLYMPICS ITALY

- 24th April 2009: introductory European Football Week press conference at the Italian Soccer Federation, with participation of Giancarlo Abete, President of the Federation, Alessandro Palazzotti, Special Olympics Italy Vice-President, and actress Bianca Guaccero, sponsor of the event.
- 28th April 2009: European Football Week in Ancona.
European Football Week 2009
European Football Week is an international soccer event for athletes with and without intellectual disability, who follow the Special Olympics program.
This event is organised with the support of UEFA, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, Johan Cruyff Foundation and, in Italy, under the sponsorship of Soccer League, FIGC (Italian Soccer Federation) and the involved Local Councils. Around 40.000 athletes from 50 European and Eurasian nations participate each year in this event, which takes place simultaneously in every country. European Football Week is a typical Special Olympics event with all its features (Opening Ceremony, tripod lighting, Awarding and Closing Ceremonies); it includes the organization of  5 and 7 Unified Soccer matches, as well as Unified Soccer trails for Special Olympics Italy and School Teams.
Unified Soccer entails the participation of teams composed of Athletes with intellectual disability and partner athletes; the latter have some restrictions during the match, as stated in the regulations.
Teams are composed of people with similar abilities and rounds are developed according to the ability level.
Unified Soccer Trails entail the carrying out of trails and games to provide preparation for Unified Soccer, with slalom and kicking exercises, skips… In both cases, it is essential that Athletes and partners have same age and similar abilities so that the principle of equal abilities is guaranteed.


European Basketball Week 2008
European Basketball Week is an international basketball event for athletes with and without intellectual disability, who follow the Special Olympics program.
This event is organised with the support of FIBA Europe, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, and under the sponsorship of Basketball League, FIB (Italian Basketball Federation) and the involved Local Councils. This is the main event symbolizing the collaboration between FIBA Europe and Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, ratified in May 2004 with the aim of involving athletes with intellectual disability in practising basketball. Indeed, its popularity increased from 13,000 players to almost 40,000, with the participation of National Basketball Federations and professional clubs.

Around 12,000 athletes with intellectual disability from 30 European and Eurasian nations participate each year in this event, which takes place simultaneously in every country. Thousands of athletes, children and adults, boys and girls with intellectual disability can show their abilities and determination on fields throughout Europe and Eurasia.
European Basketball Week is a typical Special Olympics event with all its features (Opening Ceremony, tripod lighting, Awarding and Closing Ceremonies). The event includes the organization of several activities: Unified Basketball Tournaments, Clinic, exhibition matched, Unified Basketball Trails. In particular, Unified Basketball entails the participation of teams composed of Athletes with intellectual disability and partner athletes; the latter have some restrictions during the match, as stated in the regulations.
Teams are composed of people with similar abilities and rounds are developed according to the ability level. It is essential that Athletes and partners have same age and similar abilities so that the principle of equal abilities is guaranteed.

European Basketball Week 2008 took place from 28th November to 7th December. In Italy, it has been developed with several schools and involved school boards from different regions and municipalities. Around 1200 athletes and 300 volunteers participated in the event, with some 200 daily spectators for each event, schools, families, friends and interested people.
During European Basketball Week 2008, Athletes with and without intellectual disability could participate in several tournaments with different difficulty levels. Championships among Special Olympics Teams and Unified Sport School Teams have been organized, as well as trails and games to approach Unified Basketball, with throwing exercises and slalom, addressed mainly to children attending primary school, from 6 to 10 years old.  
European Basketball Week 2008 took place throughout Italy, in different modalities: in particular, November 28th in Ancona, at the “Palarossini”, schools from different grade and order participated in Unified Basketball trails, together with classes with at least one student with intellectual disability. Participating athletes: 350.

In each of the 2 events, each athlete has been given a t-shirt with Fondazione Nando Peretti logo, a participation medal and a certificate. Each school was offered a plate to commemorate the Event.