It doesn’t get bigger than this!
The Special Olympics World Summer Games is the largest and most inclusive sporting event on the planet this year. Just look at the figures!
- 7,000 athletes
- 190 delegations
- 26 sports, 9 for Australia
- 300,000 fans in the stands
- 20,000 volunteers – 24% from outside of Germany, 38 nationalities, 91,000 shifts. The oldest volunteers will be 92 years old!
Blast from the past
In 2023, 96% of athletes selected for Team Australia have never been to a Special Olympics World Games before. But one person who is part of our Aussie team is a very familiar face to Team Australia. Her name is Olga.
In Berlin, Olga will be the team's Delegation Assistant Liaison (DAL) which is our first point of contact and support at the World Games.
This is a role Olga will fulfil incredibly well. We know it, because Olga has shown her talent before.
Olga was the DAL for Team Australia at the Special Olympics World Games in Athens in 2011 and Abu Dhabi in 2019! She even visited Australia earlier this year where she caught up with our Team Australia’s Head of Delegation, Susie Bennett-Yeo.
If you’re in Berlin and support Team Australia say hi to Olga, our adopted Aussie and Team Australia champion.
Team Australia will compete in nine sports
Athletics
Team Australia has ten track and field athletes who will compete in events from 100m to 1000m, long jump and javelin. And as you can see they are a lively bunch! Athletics is a foundation sport of Special Olympics with competition held at the first World Games in Chicago in 1968. At Special Olympics, athletics has the most participants worldwide.
Basketball
Basketball is another foundation sport of Special Olympics with competition beginning at the first World Games in Chicago in 1968. At the 2023 World Games, the disciplines of basketball are: men, women, Unified Sports. There is also a 3x3 basketball competition for the first time at a Special Olympics World Games. Australia will have two teams, one each in the men and women's competition.
Bocce
Bocce has been a Special Olympics World Games sport since 1991. Bocce is the Italian version of the well-known French ball game boules. Team Australia has four bocce players, three are veteran World Games participants in the sport, including husband and wife duo Vicki and Andrew Robbins.
Bowling
Bowling has been a Special Olympics World Games sport since 1975 and it is one of the most popular sports at Special Olympics across the world. The four athletes and two officials on the Team Australia bowling team are heading to the World Games for the first time in Berlin.
Equestrian
Equestrian sports have been a part of Special Olympics World Games since 1987 and Australia participated at international level since the World Games 2015 in Los Angeles. The is year the Australian equestrian team is made of four riders, including Oliver King who is the youngest athlete on Team Australia at the age of 15.
Golf
Golf has been a Special Olympics World Games sport since 1995. Team Australia has six golfers from Queensland and NSW.
Gymnastics (Artistic)
Artistic Gymnastics has been a Special Olympics World Games sport since 1972. Team Australia has six gymnasts, including Chris who is competing at his third World Games.
Swimming
Swimming is a foundation sport of Special Olympics with competition first held at the inaugural World Games in Chicago in 1968. Swimming rules AT World Games are based on those of the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), with slight adaptions for medical and religious reasons.This year eight swimmers will represent Team Australia at the World Games.
Tennis
Team Australia has two tennis players.Tennis has been a Special Olympics World Games sport since 1987 and Australia has some of the best tennis players in Special Olympics competition.
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Media Enquiries in Australia
or reach out to the Icon Agency team:
Jaclyn Dargue
Jaclyn.dargue@iconagency.com.au
+61 438 504 419
Remanika Chaudhry
remanika.chaudhry@iconagency.com.au
+61 413 520 619
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Media Enquiries in Berlin
Sharon Nixon
media@specialolympics.com.au
+61 406 821 461
