Nicosia, Cyprus. Special Olympics Cyprus and the education ministry signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to formalise their partnership on the Unified Schools initiative, which promotes athletics and leadership opportunities for students with and without intellectual disabilities.
Programme goals
Special Olympics is a nonprofit sports organisation for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Education Minister Athena Michaelides said the Unified Schools philosophy aligns with the ministry’s goal of promoting “a modern, democratic and people-centered school.”
Pilot implementation
The Unified Schools programme was implemented as a pilot during the 2025-2026 school year. Fourteen elementary and secondary schools participated in the five-month pilot, during which 130 activities were carried out.
Official statements
Michaelides said the collaboration between the ministry and Special Olympics aims to “offer all children more opportunities for participation, collaboration, learning and personal development”.
“True inclusion is not built with words,” she said. “It is built every day in classrooms, on playgrounds, on sports fields and through the human relationships formed in places where everyone feels they belong.”
Broader education policy
The government’s education bill, which includes steps to meet the needs of individual students and develop more robust special education services in schools, is currently in the public consultation stage.
Special Olympics statement
In a statement, Special Olympics said the partnership will “work towards a society free of discrimination, where sports and education will serve as bridges to inclusion, equality and respect for human dignity.”
