2010 Global Congress

Special Olympics supporters from around the world are gathering to chart the course for the future of our movement. Our first-ever Global Congress is an opportunity to carry the torch of our founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. We will honor her by igniting an even bolder movement in support of our mission. In Marrakech, we have the opportunity to engage in collaborative work, to learn from our peers and to be inspired by our athletes and supporters. This will be a defining week for Special Olympics.

Before The Congress. Members of the North America Leadership Council listen to a report June 4 on the devastating effect of the January 2010 earthquake on Special Olympics athletes in Haiti. Several Special Olympics regions and groups are meeting in Morocco to make the most of the trip for the Congress.

The work of the Global Congress
Through plenary sessions and breakout discussions, inspiring speakers and casual networking, engaging with athletes and learning best practices, the Congress will deepen your ability to create and deliver quality programs for Special Olympics. Using the five pillars of our emerging collaborative plan as a framework, the work of the Congress will focus on:

• Athlete Experience
• Building Communities
• Fan Engagement
• Movement Leadership
• Sustainable Capabilities.

The Congress will allow for an exceptional amount of direct engagement and interaction, allowing Delegates to focus on those pillars that will best move their program forward. Each person will walk away with toolkits and inspiration that will set the course for the next decade in their program.

Making a real difference to our work
The Congress is designed to challenge perceptions and drive action for a new stage in the growth of Special Olympics. Delegates will:
Feel inspired by belonging and contributing to a global Movement, saying “I am in!”
Think differently and deeply about what it takes to bridge from an event-based organization to a movement that is important, urgent, relevant and inclusive.
Act by making a personal and leadership commitment to align and strengthen our programs locally, embedding the core pillars of our strategic framework.

Setting a leadership agenda for the decade ahead
Over the past ten years, Special Olympics has grown rapidly in many geographies and in many directions. We have tripled the number of participating athletes to more than 3.1 million and we are now established in 170 nations worldwide. With growth comes challenges. Challenges in resources. Challenges in focus. Challenges in leadership. The Congress provides a unique forum to unite and engage our leaders in a serious global dialogue about how we will sustain quality growth given the cultural, economic, demographic, and political realities we face today.