One hundred young people from Manchester have attended a Youth Summit at Old Traffordto launch a new Special Olympics campaign, as part of a global movement to break down barriers for young people with intellectual (learning) disabilities.
The Youth Summit was one of eight special events across the country to launch Play Unified, a new Special Olympics GB campaign delivered in partnership with national charity the Youth Sport Trust.
The campaign, funded by DCMS and jointly administered by DCMS and Sport England, aims to use sport and leadership skills to change perceptions of and attitudes towards young people with intellectual disabilities. Ultimately, Play Unified seeks to break down barriers that exist for people with intellectual disabilities – both on and off the pitch – creating a ‘unified generation’.
Positioned within the Young Ambassador movement, 100 Young Ambassadors, both with and without intellectual disabilities, who have been selected for their leadership qualities, gathered at the Youth Summit to drive Play Unified and learn how to become leaders in their schools. The summit educated, motivated and empowered young people to create positive change, promote inclusion and provided opportunities for young people to take part in sport.
Play Unified is inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to understanding, acceptance and friendship – a principle that will be central to the summit.
Paralympic swimmer Kate Grey and World Champion inline skater Jenna Downing, who have themselves overcome adversity to succeed, were in attendance at the Play Unified summit in Manchester, highlighting sport’s capacity to change lives and perceptions.
Karen Wallin, CEO of Special Olympics GB said: “Play Unified is a global Special Olympics campaign aimed at breaking down the barriers and misconceptions towards people with intellectual disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities say they want to be included as equals in society. The Unified Generation will lead our movement and will do so by simply playing unified.”
Ali Oliver, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, commented: “The Special Olympics GB Play Unified Summits delivered by the Youth Sport Trust provide a unique opportunity to inspire and empower young people with and without disabilities to become leaders in their schools, creating positive change and developing more opportunities for young people to take part in sport.
