Special Champions League

2026-07-22

The Special Champions League is a project that aims to enhance the social inclusion of people with an intellectual disability in society through a European Football project. Together with EFDN, SOEE, and 8 distinguished football clubs, we plan to set up a grassroots model in creating and managing a football team for athletes with intellectual disabilities. We will implement the method to develop local football teams to train and compete at a low level, whereafter they can participate in Special Champions League international match days all over Europe. Outstanding and exceptionally performing athletes will receive the opportunity to be involved in coaching the team together with the real coach (Unified tandem coaching) to make them examples of inclusion in sports. The organizing partners will stay in touch and share their best practices during international project meetings. The outcome will be extensive and versatile i.e. building the participants confidence, self-esteem, perceived inclusion, and improving their physical and mental health, during and after the project; the participating organizations will enlarge their network, establish a strong connection with Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, share their best practices with each other, they will be a benchmark for local development of sports for people with intellectual disabilities and will be the motors of change by disseminating activities at all levels; in general, the consortium expects to show everyone what people with intellectual disabilities CAN do, rather than what they CANNOT.

Belgium

2025-10-15