Portugal will be represented by 39 athletes at the Special Olympics World Games for People with Intellectual Disabilities, which this year will be held in Berlin from 17 to 25 June.
According to Portuguese Special Olympics president António Marques, the athletes will represent the national colors “in what is considered the world’s largest adapted sport event.”
700 athletes from 170 countries will take part in the competition. Portugal competes in athletics, basketball, riding, futsal, rhythmic gymnastics, golf, swimming and table tennis.
“The delegation of Portugal will consist of 56 people, of which 39 athletes, two partners, 12 technicians, a doctor and two delegates,” António Marques said today.
The Special Olympics movement has existed since 1968 (since 2001 in Portugal), and Portugal has participated in the World Games in Dublin 2003, Shanghai 2007, Athens 2011, Los Angeles 2015 and Abu Dhabi 2019.
Competitions are organized according to the logic of integration and competition between equals, which means that a “separation” is implemented, when athletes register in series with the same time.
If someone runs out of time 10% above what they were registered with, they are disqualified because they should have been included in another level.
According to the leader, the most important thing is the opportunity for athletes who regularly play sports to participate in a major sporting event and develop various skills from this experience, including in terms of socialization or self-esteem.
In 2019, Portugal participated in the World Cup with 31 athletes in nine sports and due to the pandemic caused by covid-19, the 2021 European Championship was cancelled.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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