Approximately 300 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 28 counties will compete between May 30 and June 1 in Romania's 2025 Special Olympics National Games in Bistrita, Bistrita-Basaud County.
The event, organised by the Special Olympics Foundation in partnership with the Bistrita Lions Club, is in its 18th edition.
The sports director of the foundation, Viorel Mocanu, told a news conference on Thursday that, in addition to the athletes, there will be over 130 coaches and companions of the athletes, 150 volunteers, medical staff and technical staff.
The athletes, aged between 8 and 52, will compete in the swimming and bocce events and, in the first two days, they will also receive free medical evaluations from specialists in ophthalmology, audiology and dentistry.
"These children, who are often neglected, these days will benefit from the attention and evaluation of their health status by authentic and even very valuable specialists. We never forget sports: these competitions are important because health benefits occur if these athletes train throughout the year. Any performance coach or coach for people with disabilities knows that it is very important for these athletes to participate in training and being motivated. The motivation is the attention and the emotion I experience at these games," Mocanu said.
The event, held under the slogan "Sport unites all abilities," promotes inclusion, respect and equal opportunities through sport.
The opening ceremony will take place on the evening of May 30, at the multipurpose hall in Bistrita, where the Flame of Hope, the equivalent of the Olympic Flame, will arrive carried by Special Olympics athletes and local sports personalities through the historic centre of the city.
The 2025 Special Olympics National Games are organised in partnership with the Bistrita City Hall, the Bistrita-Nasaud County Council, the Bistrita extension of the Babe-Bolyai University, the County School Inspectorate and the local Lacrima and Sfanta Maria schools for inclusive education. AGERPRES
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