In Berlin, about 7,000 athletes from 170 countries have gathered to compete in 24 sports during the 2023 Special Olympics World Games. These athletes, individuals with intellectual disabilities, are vying for medals in events including judo, powerlifting, badminton, and bocce. The Special Olympics organization coordinates the games, inviting competitors from dozens of national programs (called SOs) to participate and be celebrated for their accomplishments. From the organizer’s website: “The motto of the athletes of Special Olympics Germany is: ‘Nothing about us without us having a say.’” This year’s event began with an opening ceremony in Berlin’s Olympiastadion on June 17 and will wrap up on June 25. Collected here are glimpses from the events.
Scenes From the 2023 Special Olympics World Games
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![An athlete celebrates while being lifted by a coach.]()
Read moreThe German powerlifter Danilo Pasnicki cheers after the bench press while being carried by the coach Florian Crusius on June 21, 2023, during the Special Olympics World Games, in Berlin. #
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![A crowd of athletes enters a stadium, walking beneath an inflated sculptural arch shaped like many colorful arms reaching up.]()
Read moreThe German delegation arrives in the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on June 17, 2023. #
John Macdougall / AFP / Getty -
![A young athlete walks beside her father and other athletes in a stadium.]()
Read moreAnnabelle, a 13-year-old artistic gymnast, and her father, Markus, are pictured marching with the German delegation during the parade of athletes in the Olympiastadion on June 17, 2023. #
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![An athlete uses a torch to light a large ceremonial cauldron.]()
Read moreGermany's Sophie Rensmann lights the Special Olympics cauldron during the Opening Ceremony on June 17, 2023. #
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![A stadium full of athletes and onlookers is illuminated by fireworks and spotlights.]()
Read moreFireworks explode at the end of the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games on June 17, 2023. #
John Macdougall / AFP / Getty -
![A track and field athlete poses, showing off a muscular arm, before a race.]()
Read moreToup Nasukdee of Laos reacts prior to his 50-meter men's semifinal at the track-and-field competition during day two of the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin's Hanns-Braun-Stadion, on June 18, 2023. #
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![An athlete jumps to throw a handball as others stand nearby.]()
Read moreA view of the action during the handball match between SO Denmark (red) and SO Hungary (white) on June 21, 2023, in Berlin #
Marvin Ibo Güngör / Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 / Getty -
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![A swimmer raises their arms and. smiles before a race.]()
Read moreSarah Ghandoura of Saudia Arabia interacts with a volunteer prior to the 100-meter freestyle level-A quarterfinal during day two of the Special Olympics World Games. #
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![An athlete moves to hit a shuttlecock with their racquet.]()
Read moreAnastasiya Rozova of Turkmenistan plays badminton in the classifications phase on June 18, 2023. #
Marvin Ibo Güngör / Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 / Getty -
![Athletes swim in an open-water race.]()
Read moreLeo Heckel and Adrian Schlueter of Germany compete in the 1500-meter Unified Sports open-water swimming competition during day three, June 19, 2023, at Berlin's Regattastrecke Grünau. #
Alexander Hassenstein / Getty -
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![A swimmer embraces someone after a race.]()
Read moreTeresita Santander of Mexico reacts after competing in the 1500-meter Unified Sports open-water swimming competition on June 19, 2023. #
Alexander Hassenstein / Getty -
![An athlete takes off, starting a race, seen in silhouette.]()
Read moreNur Ameer Muqsiq Bin Baharuddin of Malaysia starts the 4-x-100-meter relay during the track-and-field competition on June 18, 2023. #
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![Runners race toward the camera, on a track.]()
Read moreRebecca Maller of Isle of Man competes in the 50-meter women's semifinal during day two of the Games. #
Alexander Hassenstein / Getty -
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![A goalkeeper passes a soccer ball.]()
Read moreThe goalkeeper of SO United Arab Emirates 1 passes the ball during a group-stage match of the women's Unified Sports team-football competition (seven-a-side) against SO Bharat 2 on June 19, 2023. #
Maja Hitij / Getty -
![A gymnast performs a routine in a stadium.]()
Read moreLola Kuchkorova of SO Uzbekistan performs during the rhythmic gymnastics level-2 all-around competition on June 20, 2023. #
Maja Hitij / Getty -
![A gymnast poses while performing inside a stadium.]()
Read moreEleni Tilkeridou of SO Hellas competes during the level-3 all-around rhythmic-gynmastic event in Berlin on June 20, 2023. #
Maja Hitij / Getty -
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![Basketball players compete in a 3x3 match.]()
Read morePlayers from Lithuania (yellow) and Italy (blue) compete in a 3x3 basketball "divisioning" women's match on June 18, 2023. #
Maja Hitij / Getty -
![An athlete celebrates after scoring a goal.]()
Read moreAbdulaziz Almubarak cheers after scoring a goal for Saudi Arabia during the men's unified handball final rounds, played against Kenya, in the Horst-Korber Sports Center on June 20, 2023 #
Christoph Soeder / Picture Alliance / Getty -
![Five athletes stand on a podium, wearing medals, their arms held high above their heads.]()
Read moreFrom left: Tsilisehang Letuka from Lesotho, Christopher Jaquet from Paraguay, Alec Baldwin from Canada, Christopher Lewis from Antigua and Barbuda, and Hazem Mousa from Libya celebrate with their medals on the podium for 800-meter level-A finals during day four of the 2023 Games. #
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![Two athletes embrace after winning a table tennis match.]()
Read moreKarina Popa (right) reacts with her partner, Paula Cojocaru, of Romania after winning their final match against Salma Elrass and Lama Alghamdi of Saudi Arabia in the women's Unified Sports doubles-tennis competition at Messe Berlin on June 21, 2023. #
Alexander Hassenstein / Getty -
![An athlete makes a long jump.]()
Read moreAlexander Lillieskoeld of SO Sweden competes during the long-jump level-B men's semifinal on June 21, 2023. #
Maja Hitij / Getty -
![Two runners hold hands after a race.]()
Read moreAthletes hold hands after competing in the 50-meter women's semifinal at the track-and-field competition, June 18, 2023. #
Alexander Hassenstein / Getty -
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![A weightlifter strains and makes a face while lifting weights.]()
Read moreDanilo Pasnicki of Germany reacts during the power-weightlifting competition at Berlin Messe on June 21, 2023. #
Alexander Hassenstein / Getty -
![Gymnasts and others dance together.]()
Read moreGloria Poichee Quiroga of Bolivia celebrates with a dance alongside other athletes after the rhythmic-gymnastics competition at Berlin Messe on June 21, 2023. #
Alexander Hassenstein / Getty -
![Swimmers dive at the start of a race.]()
Read moreAthletes compete in the 200-meter breaststroke level-A division-MA01 swimming semifinal on day two of the Games. #
Maja Hitij / Getty -
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![Two swimmers embrace in a pool after a race.]()
Read moreThe swimmers Will Browning of Great Britain and Zakaria Tounsi of Algeria hug after competing on June 20, 2023. #
Alexander Hassenstein / Getty -
![A person smiles while holding the face of a tired swimmer, after a race.]()
Read moreAnita Greco of Italy celebrates after competing in the 1500m Open Water Swimming competition at Regattastrecke Grünau on June 19, 2023. #
Alexander Hassenstein / Getty -
![A golfer looks downrange after a swing.]()
Read morePaul Kögler of Germany warms up for the golf competition, on the driving range at the Bad Saarow Golf Club in Brandenburg, Germany, on June 20, 2023. #
Andreas Gora / Picture Alliance / Getty -
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![Players compete during a handball match.]()
Read moreDenmark and Costa Rica compete in a handball match on day four of the Games. #
Aldara Zarraoa / Getty -
![Runners celebrate at the end of a race.]()
Read moreRegan Hofley of SO Canada (left) celebrates while Yukine Watanabe of SO Japan smiles, after the 800-meter level-A finals on June 20, 2023. #
Annegret Hilse / Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 / Getty
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