Special Olympics UAE and Special Olympics Slovakia have been crowned Unified Volleyball World Cup Champions!

After four exciting days and 40 matches played, the inauguration took place Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup crowns its very first champions: Special Olympics United Arab Emirates (Women) and Special Olympics Slovakia (Men/Mixed).

The Unified Volleyball World Cup took place from October 5 to 8 in Katowice, Poland, with 16 teams from around the world competing in 5 matches. Each team consisted of 6 volleyball players, 6 Unified partners (players without intellectual disabilities), three coaches and one volleyball ambassador.

Including the women’s section Special Olympic Games Bharat (India), Special Olympics Italy, Special Olympics Kenya, Special Olympic Games Mongolia, Special Olympic Namibia, Special Olympics Serbia, Special Olympics United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Special Olympic Games Ukraine.

Including the men’s department Special Olympics Austria, Special Olympic Games Finland, Special Olympic Games Iraq, Special Olympic Games Poland, Special Olympics Saudi Arabia, Special Olympics Serbia, Special Olympics SlovakiaAnd Special Olympics United States of America.

For the women’s final, Special Olympics UAE took on Special Olympics Ukraine, beating them in just 2 sets and being declared the tournament winner.

The UAE dominated the match against Ukraine, never letting them take the lead in the first set, finishing 25-13. Ukraine led the second set and at one point even led 7-1. Special Olympics UAE grabbed a handful of consecutive points to level the score and the two sides were tied at 17-17 when UAE began to take the lead.

Special Olympics UAE’s Maitha Alfalasi held her own on the court, seamlessly transitioning from defense to attack aiding her team’s breakaway late in the second set. The match ended 25-20 with Special Olympics UAE earning the gold medal.

Photo by Christel Saneh/Christel Saneh for Special Olymp

Special Olympics Saudi Arabia and Special Olympics Slovakia battled it out in the men’s final, with Slovakia beating Saudi Arabia by 25 points in set 2 for the victory.

The Special Olympics Slovakia front row was a perfect trio with the three players, #5 Simon Jakus, #1 Rastislav Kotlar and #7 Adam Coma. The array of players worked in unison, receiving, passing and poking the ball back over the net as a cohesive unit. The Slovak team looked united and ready for action at every step of the cup and as a result their coach received the Best Coach (Men) award at the closing ceremony.

In addition to the Best Coach Award, teams had a chance to win the Fair Play Award and the Unified Team Award.

Fair Play Team Award: Awarded to the team that exemplified the best gameplay based on the FIVB Guidelines and the Special Olympics Sport philosophy.

• Women’s team: Special Olympics Kenya
• Men/Mixed: Special Olympics USA

Unified Team Award: Awarded to the team or Unified Pair that best exemplifies the principles of meaningful engagement and inclusion on and off the playing field.

• Women’s team: Special Olympics United Arab Emirates
• Men/Mixed: Special Olympics Finland

Best Coach Award: Awarded to the coach based on the coach’s excellence and the sporting values ​​presented.

• Women’s team: Special Olympics Italy
• Men/Mixed: Special Olympics Slovakia

Final results (women)

• Special Olympics United Arab Emirates
• Special Olympic Games Ukraine
• Special Olympics Kenya
• Bharat Special Olympics
• Special Olympics Namibia
• Special Olympics Italy
• Special Olympics Serbia
• Special Olympic Games Mongolia

Final results (men/mixed)

• Special Olympics Slovakia
• Special Olympics Saudi Arabia
• Special Olympic Games Poland
• Special Olympic Games Iraq
• Special Olympics Serbia
• Special Olympic Games Finland
• Special Olympics Austria
• Special Olympics United States of America

Special Olympics organizes single-sport events, such as the Unified Volleyball World Cup, to serve as a critical catalyst for sports development. These events help further dispel stereotypes and implicit limitations of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, both on and off the field. They support and grow the sport with the help of the International Federation and the National Federation. They also increase the depth and understanding of a sport within the international community while engaging new demographics to learn, try and enjoy sports with the help of Special Olympics athletes.