The Special Olympics Unified Cup 2022 presented by Toyota, was held in Detroit, Michigan, USA from 31 July to 6 August 2022. Detroit welcomed 22 teams (12 female & 10 Male teams) and over 300 footballers from 21 nations to compete in football (soccer)—the world’s most popular sport. The event featured competition broadcast to hundreds of millions of viewers across the globe. Through the support of Sports Authority of India, SO Bharat was represented by a Unified female football team comprising of 6 Athletes and 5 Unified Partners from 9 states of India. Team SO Bharat returned with a Bronze Medal after having played five matches in all.
Special Olympics Unified Sports® is what makes it uniquely inclusive: Teams are comprised of footballers with and without intellectual disabilities playing together. The week-long event showcased athletic performances on the pitch, highlighting stereotype-defying stories off the pitch—changing minds and opening hearts through transformational inclusion. The 2022 Detroit event was the second-ever tournament in this single-sport series. The first edition of the tournament was held in 2018 in Chicago.
India played its first match against UAE winning 2:1 while lost to Burkina Faso and Mexico in Group C and in the semi-finals against Namibia. The final match between SO Bharat and Serendib concluded with India securing the third position in division three. The team returned to India on 8 August 2022 receiving a befitting welcome on 9 August 2022.
In the words of Dr Nadda: The Unified Cup once again amplified the message of Inclusion to a crescendo, unfolding over 20 teams coming from diametrically diverse cultures, making Detroit, home to the week-long event, an outstanding potboiler of sorts. Inclusion is for sure although, slow. Although the event has concluded, the attitude of Inclusion must go on. I request the media to be our proactive partners in spreading the word to end discrimination and promote Inclusion of Persons with Intellectual Disability.
