Special Olympics European Football Week Celebrates 25 Years of Inclusion Through Sport

(Europe - 16 May 2025) Special Olympics Europe Eurasia (SOEE), a regional office of Special Olympics, Inc. (Special Olympics) has announced the start of the 25th edition of European Football Week (EFW 2025), to be celebrated from 17 to 24 May 2025 across 45+ nations in SOEE.

EFW is a grassroots-driven initiative aiming to inspire local communities to host Unified football events, where individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) play side by side. 

Since its inception in 2000, EFW has provided opportunities for over 700,000 people with IDD to engage in football, fostering inclusion, and community.

EFW 2025 will include a mix of competitions including ‘Come and Try’ events for new and seasoned Special Olympics athletes, as well as cultural activities. Special Olympics athletes will also participate in exhibitions at various Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Fan Festivals.

David Evangelista, SOEE President & Managing Director reflected on the week’s impact:

"For 25 years, European Football Week has exemplified what the beautiful game can do: empower people, unite communities, get fit, and challenge outdated perceptions of ability. This week is about football, but it’s also about building communities of welcome, building mutual understanding, and perhaps most of all, having fun!”

“Through all of this, we drive key aims, namely in offering dignity, opportunity, and joy for thousands of athletes across our region and for all those who participate. We are deeply grateful to UEFA, Toyota Motor Europe (TME), UPS, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and all of our partners for their unwavering support over the years. Their commitment has made this milestone possible and continues to drive our movement forward at a time when it is needed most."

EFW 2025 marks a quarter-century of support from UEFA, along with 55 National Football Federations and more than 100 professional football clubs. Football is the most popular sport in SOEE, with over 105,000 registered male and female players and more than 7,000 trained coaches.

This milestone year is also a tribute to the remarkable support of long-time partners like TME, LCIF and UPS, whose dedication to inclusion has helped elevate EFW year after year. Alongside these regional allies, a diverse network of national federations, local clubs, universities, NGOs, and charitable foundations have all played a crucial role. Through their collective efforts, UNHCR, UNFPA, UNICEF, International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) and SCORT Foundation have been central to EFW’s success and have made it possible for Special Olympics athletes to thrive as players and as leaders in their communities.

Throughout May, Special Olympics athletes will also be featured at major football events, including:

• 19 May – Soccerex, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
• 20 May – UEFA Europa League Festival, Bilbao, Spain
• 23 May – UEFA Women’s Champions League Fan Zone, Lisbon, Portugal
• 25 May – World Football Day
• 28 May – UEFA Europa Conference League Festival, Wroclaw, Poland

Over the past 25 years, numerous football stars have shown their support for EFW. Among them are Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne, Italy’s Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluigi Buffon, France’s David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry, Spain's Verónica Boquete Giadáns and Julien Lopetegui, Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba, the Netherlands' Kirsten van de Ven, England’s Jack Grealish, Brazil’s Cafú and Kaká, and Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera, along with many others.

Ahead of one of these EFW editions, Buffon shared a message that continues to resonate today. Echoing the unifying spirit of the game, the legendary Italian goalkeeper said: “football has the power to bring us together, to unify the whole world.”

Joining the Special Olympics Switzerland team has been life-changing for football player Anja Van Helden: "Here at Special Olympics, everyone can play. At the beginning, I used to play for a regular club and, while I was accepted for training, I was not to play the matches."

“Why not try Special Olympics? I have made many friends and have gained a lot of confidence now. I can play the football matches now, not just train, and I feel accepted in this Special Olympics world.”

EFW 2025 stands as a powerful testament to the enduring power of football to transform lives.

For further information, please contact Aoife O’Grady, SOEE Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, on email: [email protected] Alternatively, please visit www.specialolympics.org/regions/europe-eurasia 

About Special Olympics Europe Eurasia

Special Olympics in Europe Eurasia encompasses a diverse range of cultures, languages and customs traversing 58 countries in Western, Central and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. From Iceland to Moldova, and Portugal to Kazakhstan, Special Olympics promotes respect, inclusion and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sports. 

About Special Olympics

Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global sports movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health and leadership. With over four million athletes and Unified Sports® partners and one million coaches and volunteers in 200 countries, 

Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports  and nearly 50,000 games and competitions every year.