{"id":5358,"date":"2025-08-04T15:15:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T13:15:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/specialolympics.ch\/athletes-at-special-olympics\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T11:45:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T10:45:00","slug":"athletes-at-special-olympics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/soswi.compresso.website\/en\/athletes-at-special-olympics\/","title":{"rendered":"Athletes at Special Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-05a2a08a wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Athletes at the Center \u2013 Shape, Decide, Contribute<br\/>At Special Olympics Switzerland, athletes are not just part of our movement \u2013 they are its heart. We foster their personal strengths, actively involve them in decision-making processes, and give them a platform to raise their voices. Together with partners, we specifically engage them for presentations, media appearances, and public events.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our Goal: Athletes with intellectual disabilities should be visible, take responsibility, and shape the future of Special Olympics \u2013 in Switzerland and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why we do this:<br\/>Because athletes are more than participants. They are decision-makers, role models, ambassadors, and the face of an inclusive world. At SOSWI, we give them the platform \u2013 and the support they need to grow and make an impact.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Athletes&#8217; Oath<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"soswi-pagenavigation\">\n    <h2>Quick Links<\/h2>\n\t<ul class=\"fa-ul\">                <li>\n                    <span class=\"fa-li\"><i class=\"fal fa-angle-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n                    <a\n                            target=\"_self\"\n                            href=\"https:\/\/soswi.compresso.website\/en\/athlete-committee\/\"\n                    >Athlete Commission<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n              <\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"accordion alignwide layout1\">\n  <div class=\"accordion-items\">\n<div class=\"accordion-item is-open\">\n  <div class=\"accordion-item--inner\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull accordion-item--header is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Athletes&#8217; Commission \u2013 the Voice of the Athletes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i class=\"fal fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull accordion-item--content is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Athletes&#8217; Commission (AC) is the official voice of the athletes of Special Olympics Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"padding-left:40px\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>7\u201310 members from all three language regions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Elected for a four-year term<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Represent SOSWI externally, contribute ideas and concerns<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National Plenary Session once a year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regional workshops on topics such as media presence or social media<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Presence at events as direct points of contact for other athletes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through targeted training, members strengthen their communication and media skills \u2013 thus ensuring that the athletes&#8217; perspectives are heard in all areas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"accordion-item\">\n  <div class=\"accordion-item--inner\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull accordion-item--header is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Athlete Ambassadors \u2013 Visible in Public<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i class=\"fal fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull accordion-item--content is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our Athlete Ambassadors (ATB) represent Special Olympics Switzerland and our partner organizations in public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They take on roles such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"padding-left:40px\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Speeches and presentations at events<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Media interviews<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Appearances at partner meetings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thus, they become visible representatives of our movement, gain valuable experience, and further develop their skills in communication, self-presentation, and leadership.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"accordion-item\">\n  <div class=\"accordion-item--inner\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull accordion-item--header is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Athlete Leadership Program \u2013 Taking on Leadership Roles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i class=\"fal fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull accordion-item--content is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The international Athlete Leadership Program supports athletes on their path to responsible roles. Through training and practical assignments, they acquire skills, self-confidence, and public speaking confidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Examples of roles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"padding-left:40px\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Youth Leader:<\/strong> Young athletes (14\u201325 years old) work together with peers without disabilities on projects related to sports and inclusion \u2013 and present their ideas at the international Youth Summit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Athlete Leader \/ Health Messenger:<\/strong> Adult athletes who take on leadership roles, such as media spokespersons or Health ambassadors \u2013 after completing specific online training.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sargent Shriver International Global Ambassador (SSIGA):<\/strong> Ambassadors for the World Games who represent their region internationally \u2013 a role for experienced Athlete Leaders with excellent communication skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Athletes at the Center \u2013 Shape, Decide, ContributeAt Special Olympics Switzerland, athletes are not just part of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4953,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"Athletes at the Center \u2013 Co-creating & Co-deciding","_seopress_titles_desc":"Discover how Athletes at Special Olympics Switzerland Take on Responsibility and Represent the Inclusive Values of our Movement.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5358","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/soswi.compresso.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/soswi.compresso.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/soswi.compresso.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soswi.compresso.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soswi.compresso.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5358"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/soswi.compresso.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5358\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51394,"href":"https:\/\/soswi.compresso.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5358\/revisions\/51394"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soswi.compresso.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/soswi.compresso.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}