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Korea
Professional Advice for Special Olympics Golfers - October 2012 1 of 22Special Olympics Ambassador and multiple LPGA Tour winner IK Kim conducted a golf clinic at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Songdo with Special Olympics Korea athletes. Following the clinic, she signed hats for all the athletes.
South Africa
Regional Football - October 2012 2 of 22Photo: Charles Nyambe
South Africa was host to the first Africa-wide regional football tournament for Special Olympics athletes. Teams from 14 African countries competed in the regional 7-a-side football tournament.
Korea
100 Days Till the World Games - October 2012 3 of 22Photo: Woohae Cho/AP Images for Special Olympics
Participants walk along the Cheonggye Stream at the 100-Day Countdown Celebration on October 21, 2012 in Seoul, Republic of Korea for Special Olympics World Winter Games PyeongChang 2013 which will be held from January 29 to February 5, 2013.
Australia
A Brand New Special Olympics Athlete - October 2012 4 of 22Photo: Lucas Wroe/WinkiPoP Media for Special Olympics Australia
Six-year-old Josh never knew of Special Olympics until the Trans Tasman Tournament between Australia and New Zealand came to his hometown in Cairns. His sister heard about the event and took him to watch athletics, where Special Olympics Australia CEO Gill Stapleton invited him to be part of the unified relay events. Josh has now signed up to the local program where he looks forward to starting his athletics career.
Puerto Rico
World Aquatics Invitational - September 2012 5 of 22Photo: Will Schermerhorn/SOI
Rose, a Special Olympics athlete from Virginia, waits for the moment her relay partner's hand touches the wall before diving in. Her partner was her mom, Susan. The relay was a unified event, in which people with and without intellectual disabilities compete on the same team.
Afghanistan
First Summer Games in Years - August 2012 6 of 22Photo: Special Olympics Afghanistan
Afghanistan's second national games drew 300 athletes from throughout the war-torn country. For three days, athletes with intellectual disabilities competed in track, cricket, softball throwing, football (soccer), bocce, handball and other sports.
Indonesia
Getting Ready for the Olympic Torch Run - June 2012 7 of 22Special Olympics Athlete Stephanie Handojo of Indonesia was one of several Special Olympics athletes honored by carrying the Olympic torch in connection with the London Summer Olympics in July. Although the Olympics and Special Olympics approach their competitions differently, they share respect for athletic achievement, courage, determination and sportsmanship.
United States, Virginia
Summer Sports in Full Stride - June 2012 8 of 22Photo: Will Schermerhorn/SOI
During summertime in the United States, many Special Olympics state programs hold their summer games. In Virginia, the summer games included track events, softball, weight lifting, swimming and tennis. Most events were held at the University of Richmond, host of the state summer games for 30 years.
United States
A New Voice for Special Olympics Golf - June 2012 9 of 22Photo: Kristin Hughes/SOI
Special Olympics golfer Matt Duman of New Jersey sinks a putt during a golf clinic held by three-time LPGA winner I.K. Kim. She's one of several top-notch athletes and highly regarded celebrities who support Special Olympics' work for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Kim's high profile in the golf world will help Special Olympics grow participation in golf around the world.
Serbia
A Fellowship for Coaching Excellence - May 2012 10 of 22Photo: Jenna Briggs/SOI
Steven Gardoni (at right), a Special Olympics Coaching Fellow from the United States, asks members of a Special Olympics Serbia team to sign his volleyball. The Sports United Division of the U.S. Department of State is funding an international coaching fellowship to recruit and train 20 Special Olympics football (soccer) and volleyball coaches from the United States, Serbia and Montenegro.
India
Project Unify Makes the World Equal - May 2012 11 of 22Photo: Lynn Tan/SOI
Project Unify is now "live" in India, starting with schools in Bareilly, Patna and New Delhi. Over 1,500 youths (with and without intellectual disabilities) took part in recent event launches in Bareilly and New Delhi, which included a Torch Run, Unified Sports competitions and cultural performances. This initiative empowers youth by involving them to form inclusive and tolerant school communities, creating the potential leaders of tomorrow.
United Nations
World Down Syndrome Day - March 2012 12 of 22Photo: Will Schermerhorn/SOI
The first celebration of World Down Syndrome Day by the United Nations drew visitors from around the world. Diana Stolfo of New Jersey, a young woman with Down syndrome who has taken part in numerous Special Olympics sports, gave a speech that was warmly received by ambassadors and Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General.
Canada
Winter Games Champions - March 2012 13 of 22Photo: Megan Grittani-Livingston, Special Olympics British Columbia
With precision and focus, Paige Norton of British Columbia carves a turn in a speed skating event at Special Olympics Canada's 2012 Winter Games. A talented athlete, she is a great example of the high level of skill that athletes with intellectual disabiliites achieve in Special Olympics training and competitions worldwide.
Fukushima
One Year Later - February 2012 14 of 22In 2011, Japan found itself in the midst of disaster after a powerful earthquake and devastating tsunamis damaged the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. Even so, Japan sent a delegation to Athens for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, held its fifth Winter Games in Fukushima, and welcomed U.S. speed skating champion Apolo Ohno for a set of skating clinics.
Singapore
Surf N Sweat - February 2012 15 of 22Photo: Karyn Tan/SOI
Special Olympics athlete Salim bin Buang teamed with Special Olympics coaches for Surf N Sweat 2012. The event was not connected with Special Olympics, but showing people with intellectual disabilites they can compete with confidence is a goal of Special Olympics.
Paraguay
The Copa America - November 2011 16 of 22Photo: Ricardo Alfieri, CONMEBOL
The first Special Olympics Copa America featured Special Olympics footballers from 12 countries throughout Latin America. The event was part of Special Olympics' Global Football initiative to bring opportunities to people with intellectual disabilities around the world.
Peru
Mattel Volunteers Train Youngsters - November 2011 17 of 22Volunteers from Mattel Corp. enjoyed entertainment as they trained 120 children with intellectual disabilities in the Special Olympics Young Athletes program. Mattel, a long-time sponsor, supports the Young Athletes program to prepare children to take part in sports.
Singapore
Family Day - November 2011 18 of 22Photo by Karyn Tan/SOI
Once a year, Special Olympics Singapore invites the community to see what Special Olympics is all about. A boy enjoying a chance to hit a ball could become part of the Youth Athletes program, which prepares youngsters with intellectual disabilities to take part in Special Olympics.
China
East Asia Basketball Championship - November 2011 19 of 22More than 300 athletes with intellectual disabilities and their coaches went to Hubei, China, from Hong Kong, Macau, Chinese Taipei and Korea. Sixty volunteers from Hubei University and Hubei Sport School helped.
Nigeria
Fulfilling the Founder's Dream - September 2011 20 of 22Special Olympics sets aside a day every year to celebrate the vision of our founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Around the world, people with and without intellectual disabilities play together, fulfilling Eunice Kennedy Shriver's dream that people not only accept but embrace each other's differences.
Greece
A Running Start - July 2011 21 of 22The first Special Olympics World Games open-water swim race started with the swimmers running into the warm water of the Aegean Sea. It was a demonstration event that was very popular with the well-wishers on the shore
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