Nike Partners with Special Olympics to Expand Unified Sports
Nike and the Special Olympics have announced a transformative three-year global partnership aimed at broadening access to youth sports and enhancing training for Unified Sports coaches. This initiative, which places athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams, builds on Nike’s over 20 years of support for Special Olympics Oregon. The partnership will focus on locations including Oregon, Berlin, Johannesburg, and Tokyo.
Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Nike’s chief impact officer, emphasized Oregon’s central role in the initiative, reflecting the organization’s commitment to leverage local experiences for global impact. "We know that the Unified coaching experience is a really powerful one," she noted, highlighting the goal of sharing successful strategies from Oregon worldwide.
The announcement coincided with Special Olympics’ Global Week of Inclusion, marking 57 years of service. The collaboration will revise coaching materials, train more volunteer coaches, and increase sports opportunities for girls and young women. Garcia-Brito mentioned the aim of recruiting 600 new Unified coaches to reach a total of 118,000 coaches and, importantly, impact 176,000 athletes.
Jamaal Goodlow, a Unified Basketball Coach at Parkrose High School, spoke on the significance of proper training for coaches in fostering inclusion and teamwork. Local Nike employees are already stepping up, beginning their involvement at the recent Special Olympics Oregon Summer Games.
Garcia-Brito concluded with a strong vision: "We believe that sport is for all and that it can be really transformational for everyone.” This partnership not only aims to enrich the lives of young athletes but also enhances community bonds through the power of sport.
For more information, contact Chiara Profenna at 503-221-4327 or via email.
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