Disability Sports Programs Connect Athletes Across Communities

Sports programs in Cambodia, Vietnam and the United States are creating more opportunities for people with disabilities to participate, build skills and connect with others. A two-day Special Olympics training in Cambodia prepared local participants to support more sports activities for people with intellectual disabilities, while a 2026 exchange in Vietnam brought together nearly 90 athletes with disabilities for competitions intended to strengthen teamwork and ties between provincial organizations. In the United States, free basketball sessions for Indigenous youth in Winnipeg are helping participants develop skills, including in preparation for the 2028 North American Indigenous Games. Community and university programs in Wisconsin and Chicago also offer adaptive sports and basketball instruction, with participants and families highlighting the benefits of encouragement, learning and friendship.