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The Host Town of Arendsee: happy days of sport and cooperation
16.06.2023 - Not only was the weather on its best behaviour: Arendsee was full of hospitality, warmth and cheerfulness to impress the Special Olympics participants who were making their last-minute training preparations in the Altmark region before the Games commenced. We supported the four-day Host Town Programme from 12 to 15 June as a local sponsor.
The capital city of Berlin is witnessing a sports event full of superlatives, which ends on 25 June: about 7,000 athletes with intellectual and multiple disabilities are competing in the Special Olympics World Games. Before this, over 200 Host Towns throughout Germany welcomed visitors from all over the world for four days. A 40-strong delegation from Syria visited Arendsee to recover from their long journey and to prepare for the Games. The IDA Integrationsdorf holiday village in Arendsee provided the ideal setting for them.
Full programme in Arendsee
From 12 to 15 June, the days were packed full of activities: training sessions all around Arendsee and a surprise visit by the USA delegation were just as much a part of this as a torch run from the market square to the sports ground, a football tournament and lots of encounters at the family festival. The citizens of Arendsee showed plenty of interest in the Special Olympics and celebrated with their guests under a shining sun. When the Olympic flag was symbolically set alight and handed to the head of the Syrian delegation, this was a moving moment for everyone involved.
Focus on sustainability and inclusion
“Sport brings people together – which was proven impressively by the success of these happy days,” says Iris Klein, Marketing Manager. “Our company has made its commitment to sustainability, social responsibility, inclusion and respectful social interaction clear. We were therefore very pleased to support the Host Town Programme as a local sponsor.”
Background to the Special Olympics World Games
The Special Olympics World Games have been around for 55 years. They were founded in the USA in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy-Shriver, a sister of John F. Kennedy. Nowadays, the Special Olympics are recognised as the biggest sports movement in the world for people with intellectual and multiple disabilities and are officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The aim is to give people with intellectual disabilities the chance to participate in sports activities and events. Their success speaks for itself: Special Olympics are represented in 174 countries with more than five million athletes.