On 18 June, the Li Foundation team welcomed Dipak and Lisa from the Special Olympics’ Asia Pacific regional office for a conversation on advancing inclusion for persons with intellectual disabilities through cross-sector collaboration. The discussion explored shared interests in fostering partnerships and strengthening philanthropy to build more inclusive societies across the region.
Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement that uses sport, healthcare, and education as key vehicles to promote inclusion and empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through seven regional hubs, Special Olympics supports more than 200 programmes across 177 countries and territories. Most of these programmes are delivered locally through a network of over 20,000 clubs, reaching more than 4.6 million athletes and participants annually.
During the conversation, the Special Olympics team shared how sport serves as an entry point to bring together individuals with intellectual disabilities, their families, and the wider community, fostering confidence, belonging, and social acceptance. Beyond sporting programmes, the organisation also champions inclusive healthcare, inclusive education, and leadership initiatives that enable persons with intellectual disabilities to thrive and participate more fully in society.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of systemic approaches to advancing disability inclusion. Drawing on its regional research and implementation experience, the Special Olympics team observed that while inclusion is widely embraced as a shared value, many people remain uncertain about how to translate that belief into everyday interactions. They noted that while programmes can equip persons with intellectual disabilities with skills and opportunities, lasting inclusion also depends on creating welcoming schools, workplaces, and community spaces. This underscores the role that storytelling, community engagement, and partnerships across the government, private, and philanthropic sectors can play in driving meaningful social and behavioural change.
The Li Foundation looks forward to continuing conversations with Special Olympics and like-minded partners to foster greater understanding, inclusion, and opportunities for communities across Asia.
The book showcases how the participants challenged their limits and conquered the World Marathon Challenge and North Pole Marathon to inspire people to challenge their own limits and pursue their dreams boldly.
The book tells the stories behind the event which saw the largest number of people in history running 1045km round Taiwan in 19 days.