VDCO-News

Special Olympics

Review of 2022, Outlook for 2023

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The volunteer team "Opening Eyes"

With the "Special Olympics", intended for athletes with intellectual disabilities, a third pillar of the Olympic idea has emerged alongside the classic Olympic Games and the Paralympics. Last June, about 4,500 athletes took part in the National Special Olympics in Berlin. There were also delegations from other countries, such as Spain, the Netherlands and Hungary, to name but a few. The organisation and realisation of this event was carried out by a comparatively few full-time employees and thousands of volunteers. A total of 20 sports were offered: Badminton, basketball, bowling, football, golf, judo, canoeing, powerlifting, athletics, cycling, horse riding, swimming and many more. A special feature of this sporting event was the accompanying health programme "Healthy Athletes" introduced in 2004, which was highly accepted. A total of eight areas were offered with the aim of providing basic health advice and examinations: Fit Feet (foot diagnostics), FUNfitness (fun exercise - physiological exercise behaviour), Health Promotion(healthy eating and lifestyle counselling), Healthy Hearing (better hearing, hearing screening), Opening Eyes (better vision, vision screening), Special Smiles (healthy mouth - dental screening and dental care guidance) and Strong Minds (inner strength, psychological well-being, strengthening coping skills and improving resilience to everyday and psychological stress). At the "Opening Eyes" part of the programme, sponsored by Lions Club International, the vision examination was done by a team of optometrists/opticians, ophthalmologists and volunteers from the social sector - a productive professional exchange was thus given.

 

Interested opticians and optometrists who would like to support the Opening Eyes 2023 programme are welcome to contact the Clinical Director, Prof. Dr. Werner Eisenbarth, directly. (E-mail: werner.eisenbarth@specialolympics.de)


For the "Special Olympics World Games 2023", which will take place next year from 17 to 25 June in Berlin, you can already apply as a volunteer. The organisers are expecting around 7,000 athletes for whom around 20,000 volunteers will be needed. Applications have been open since 2021 and will be reviewed until December 2022. So don't wait long, apply now!

 

Your advantages as a volunteer

- Meet international Special Olympics athletes

- Make friends with people from all over the world

- Free entry to the opening and closing ceremonies as well as all all competitions

- Volunteer clothing and merchandise

- Food and drinks

- Volunteer certificate

- Free use of public transport

- And much more!

 

Use your skills to support the Games and help the Special Olympics athletes a unique experience in Berlin and Berlin experience for the Special Olympics athletes and to celebrate of encounters.

Application and further information at https://www.berlin2023.org/de/mach-mit/volunteers or directly via the QR code