Special Olympics South Africa National Games 2022 in Limpopo

Daily Broadcast Reel: Credit Emile Bosch

Opening Doors to Inclusive Healthy Communities for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Special Olympics continues to open doors for healthcare access and to promote inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities with partnership from the Golisano Foundation

POLOKWANE, LIMPOPO – 17-19 November, 2022 - Ann Costello, the Golisano Foundation Executive Director, will visit this year’s Special Olympics South Africa National Games to witness the impact their global gift has made on community health care for people with intellectual disabilities in South Africa. The Golisano Foundation has partnered with Special Olympics International on a global initiative on inclusive health of $67 million over the past 10 years, of which Special Olympics South Africa was one of the first pilot sites in the world.

"People with intellectual and developmental disabilities around the world have been marginalized for generations - provided poor access to social, educational, and medical services. Preventable health conditions including hypertension, diabetes, dental decay, and uncorrected vision are far worse than that of the general population," said Ann Costello, Executive Director of the Golisano Foundation. She added "we partner with Special Olympics because they work to improve the health of people with intellectual disabilities by delivering preventive care, health screenings, training health professionals and strengthening health systems in over 100 countries. For over a decade, we have worked together to close the gap in access to quality care and ensure a truly inclusive world for people with intellectual disabilities."

During the 2022 Special Olympics South Africa National Games, more than 700 athletes with and without intellectual disabilities from across all nine provinces will compete. These competitions will determine which athletes advance to the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany. Over three days of events, competition will take place in nine sports: Athletics, Aquatics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Football, Futsal, Netball and Table Tennis.

Health screenings - a program called Healthy Athletes - will be available free of charge to all athletes participating in the National Games. Health care professionals from seven disciplines will provide physical exams, vision, hearing, dental, nutrition, physiotherapy and podiatry screenings. Athletes are then referred for follow up care as needed, sometimes with urgent unmet medical needs.