Admin l Saturday, June 17, 2023
BERLIN – German basketball icon Dirk Nowitzki hopes that his role as official friend of the Special Olympics will help raise awareness for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
“It is about participation, that every person can engage in sport,” Nowitzki said.
“Less than 10% of the clubs offer sport for Special Olympics athletes. I hope that the Special Olympics World Games will create more attention.”
The Special Olympics are held in Germany for the first time from later Saturday onwards, in the capital of Berlin. Some 7,000 athletes from around the world will be competing in 26 sports until June 25.
“I have been following the Special Olympics for quite a while. I am happy that we could bring so many nations to Berlin and that people with intellectual disabilities are given a chance to do sport,” former NBA champion and MVP Nowitzki said.
Nowitzki said that despite all sporting ambitions the getting together factor was very important. “It is not about winning or losing but about engaging in sport. I am happy to experience this,” he said.
Olympic fencing champion Britta Heidemann added: “It is always incredible how unifying and strong the power of sport is. It can be a signal. For the athletes, it’s just a great experience and a huge push.”
