From June 17 to 24, 2023, athletes with intellectual disabilities from all over the world will meet in Berlin to compete in various sports at the Special Olympics World Games 2023. It is the largest inclusive sporting event in the world to date. But the Olympic flame should not only burn in Berlin, the whole of Germany should present itself as a host at the games and give the athletes a very special welcome. And the district, represented by Unterföhring, Garching and Ismaning, wants to be there too.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation is currently looking for so-called “host towns” for the athletes’ delegations from a total of 170 participating countries. Before the start of the competitions from June 11 to 14, 2023, each host town will host a delegation, introduce the athletes to the region and make their arrival in Germany particularly pleasant. Accompanying there should be inclusive projects – how exactly the program looks like is up to each host town. The aim of the campaign is, on the one hand, to promote the exchange between international groups, to create encounters between people with and without disabilities and, on the other hand, to build inclusive (sports) structures that will last beyond the World Games.
The district approached the municipalities with the suggestion to apply, reports Christopher Redl, who is responsible for social issues in Garching’s town hall. In the university town this met with open ears; both the administration and the local disability council as well as the city council support the idea. “Inclusion is important to us, which is why we think the initiative is a great opportunity,” says Redl. In community with the neighbors from Ismaning and Unterföhring, Garching sees itself even broader in order to be able to make a comprehensive program with offers for all citizens. “The more there are in the boat, the better,” says Redl. “Inclusion doesn’t just affect Garching or Ismaning, it affects all of us.”
One of the ideas: a wheelchair course
Those involved will be advised in detail about which inclusive projects could take place, how and where, if it is clear whether the application will be successful. An inclusive community festival for all age groups, with handicraft corners, resting points, but also sports competitions, would be possible. For example, the Garching Disability Advisory Board can imagine a course that can be completed with a wheelchair. In order to get the whole local community in the three municipalities enthusiastic about the project, the organizers also want to approach the schools and sports clubs and explore where they can be active together.
The district officially submitted the application on October 27th. Now we have to wait and see. In mid-December, the German Olympic Sports Confederation announced, it will be announced which of the almost 230 applicants have been selected as the 170 host towns. In 2023 you will not only be allowed to host the delegations of the Special Olympics, but also the Olympic flame at times.