Toyota and Special Olympics Expand Their Partnership to Europe

Toyota Motor Europe and Special Olympics Europe Eurasia have announced a three-year partnership from 2020 that will support grass roots inclusive programming and sports events across the region. The initiative reflects the spirit of Toyota’s worldwide Start Your Impossible campaign to inspire everyone to overcome their challenges and achieve their goals.

Special Olympics is a global movement which aims to create inclusive communities around the world for children and adults with intellectual disabilities where every individual is accepted and welcomed, regardless of their ability. The organisation has more than six million athletes and Unified Sports partners around the world, supported by more than a million coaches and volunteers. In Europe/Eurasia it has a presence in 58 countries and more than half a million participating athletes.

“Our partnership with the Special Olympics represents an opportunity to extend the Start Your Impossible story which we have already begun with the Olympics and Paralympics movements,” said Dr Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe.

“Toyota believes that mobility goes beyond cars; it is about overcoming challenges and making dreams come true. In this spirit, our mission to provide freedom of movement for everyone is consistent with the Special Olympics’ own goals of creating a society based on inclusion and community. On a practical level, our employees and dealer network are invited to volunteer and support the athletes across the region, and I am proud that this has already started.”

David Evangelista, President and Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, said: “Special Olympics is honoured to sign this milestone agreement with Toyota Motor Europe to deepen our impact on inclusion through sport. Together, we will amplify the voices of Special Olympics athletes to highlight the urgency of social inclusion worldwide. This partnership will increase access to Unified Sports, opening the door for more children and adults of all abilities to experience the inclusive power of sport and the unity it creates both on and off the field of play.

“We look forward to closely collaborating with Toyota Motor Europe to expand this transformative partnership, which is already under way in Japan and the United States. We extend our deep gratitude to the Toyota family and look forward to the exciting future ahead.”

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Note to editors

Special Olympics: Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education and leadership programmes every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1968, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than six million athletes and Unified Sports partners in more than 190 countries. With the support of more than one million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and more than 100,000 games and competitions throughout the year. Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including Bank of America, the Christmas Records Trust, The Coca-Cola Company, ESPN, Essilor Vision Foundation, the Golisano Foundation, IKEA Foundation, the Lane Family, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, Lions Clubs International, Safilo Group, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, TOYOTA, United Airlines, and The Walt Disney Company. Click here for a full list of partners. Engage with us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and our blog on Medium. Learn more at www.SpecialOlympics.org.

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