Select a region
An athlete from Jersey has been selected to represent Team Special Olympics GB at the 16th Special Olympics World Games next year.
Chloe Russell, an artistic gymnast from the Special Olympics Jersey Club, is amongst the first athletes to be named in the Team SOGB squad travelling to Berlin in 2023.
In what promises to be a colourful international festival of sport, The Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin follows on from the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi in 2019.
It will be the world’s largest inclusive sporting event in 2023 with more than 7,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities competing across 26 sports over nine days.
Pictured: The Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held in venues across Berlin, including the Olympiastadion which was built for the 1936 Olympic Games.
Special Olympics GB is the largest provider of year-round sports training and competition for children and adults of all abilities with intellectual disabilities in the UK.
Its team for Berlin 2023 will compete in sports ranging from athletics, swimming, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, cycling and many more including team sports such as basketball and unified football. Athletes will be supported by 28 coaches and a further 22 support and medical staff.
Colin Dyer, CEO of Special Olympics GB, said: “Huge congratulations to all of our athletes who have been selected to represent Team SOGB at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin 2023.
“To represent Team SOGB as an athlete with intellectual disabilities deserves the highest praise and recognition. Given the incredibly challenging circumstances that we have encountered in recent years, winning a place in the Special Olympics World Games squad is not only an incredibly proud moment for our athletes, but for their loved ones and our fantastic team of volunteers who make Special Olympics GB happen.
Pictured: Chloe Russell is an artistic gymnast from the Special Olympics Jersey Club.
“We’re also very grateful for the backing of our partners on this journey to Berlin 2023 and are delighted that Jingle Jam, the world’s biggest charity gaming event, has chosen Special Olympics GB as one of its recognised charities this year.
“Not only will this help raise awareness of the work we do to transform the lives of people living with intellectual disabilities through the power of sport, but it will vitally, help us to use the awareness generated by the Special Olympics World Games to reach out to more and more people with intellectual disabilities and help them get involved with the life-changing impact of Special Olympics.”
Pictured: Chloe will compete alongside more than 7,000 other athletes with intellectual disabilities across 26 sports over nine days.
Stephen Walker, head of delegation for the Special Olympics World Summer Games, said: “Huge congratulations to all the athletes who will be representing Team SOGB at next year’s Games.
“For our athletes making up Team SOGB, representing your country is a massive honour and we are very much looking forward to working with them all over the next few months to ensure they are ready to have the best possible time at the Games. The Special Olympics World Games 2023 will be a celebration of inclusion, and we cannot wait to see our athletes in action doing their country proud.”
You can show support for Chloe and the other Special Olympics GB athletes by supporting their fundraising drive for the 2023 World Summer Games via JustGiving.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.