One of the most outstanding sports events internationally for people with intellectual disabilities, the Special Olympics Games, will have representation from Lanzarote thanks to the southern athletes Esteban Montenegro and Macarena Rivera, members of the Social Association Creciendo Yaiza who have already confirmed their presence in the disciplines of swimming and athletics, respectively.
The event, which will be held from March 30 to April 2 in Granollers (Barcelona), will bring together about 1,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities from around the world to compete in 14 disciplines, in the twelfth edition of the Special Olympics Games.
Both athletes were received this week, together with their coach and representatives of the Association, by the mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda, and the councilors of Sports and Social Services, Ángel Lago and Ángel Domínguez, respectively, who have shown their support and wished them much success, also encouraging them to enjoy this beautiful experience.
Special Olympics is an international organization that holds sporting events with people with intellectual disabilities with the aim of developing self-confidence and social skills through training and competition. Unlike any federation or the Paralympic movement, in Special Olympics all athletes are invited to participate and are recognized for their performance, regardless of their level of ability, although when it comes to competition, it is taken into account that athletes have similar skills.
The Social Association Creciendo, which this summer will be 10 years old since the beginning of its activity in the municipality of Yaiza, currently provides services throughout the island of Lanzarote to children and young people with functional diversity and their families, working from the perspective of inclusion, offering therapeutic support and sports and leisure activities.
