Special Olympics World Summer Games – Significant multi-sport and humanitarian event in Athens June 25 to July 4

The Special Olympics World Summer Games 2011 will be held from June 25 to July 4, 2011, at Athens, Greece.

The 13th edition of the Special Olympics World Summer Games promises to be one of the world’s largest multi-sport and humanitarian events bringing together 7,000 athletes from more than 180 countries, 3,000 coaches and officials, 25,000 volunteers, and thousands of spectators from around the world.

The athletes will be taking part in 22 Olympic-type sports. The mascot of this year’s Special Olympics games is Apollon, who illustrates Sun, as a symbol of joy, hope and optimism.

The opening and closing ceremonies of the Games will be held at Kallimarmaro Panathinaiko Stadium, where there will be four aerial constructions with electromechanical movement, which will attempt to breathe life into a tale by Odyssey. Cyclop Polyphemos, Sirens, Poseidon and the Sun’s chariot – all will aim to give a pleasant surprise to the spectators and the kids, as well as give joy and courage to the young athletes.

Athens, the capital of Greece, is quite accessible and well connected as the Athens International Airport handles several international airlines that operate direct, nonstop flights from major cities around the world. If you are coming from the US then think of booking air tickets for business class flights to Athens for having a comfortable journey. There are many airlines that will also be offering good discount on business class tickets to Athens to promote such events. You can book your tickets on Delta Air Lines and Continental Airlines as these airlines operate nonstop flights from New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Newark.

In July 1968, the first ever International Special Olympics Summer Games were held in Chicago. During that time 1,000 athletes from 26 US states and Canada competed in athletics, field hockey and aquatics. The Special Olympics had, ever since, been held for people with intellectual disabilities every two years in two sessions – summer and winter.

This year the athletes will participate only in 22 Olympic-type sports. However, the Special Olympics games has so far offered participation in 24 Olympic-type sports, such as Athletics, Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Basketball, Tennis, Football, Volleyball, Equestrian, Table Tennis, Bowling, Canoe-Kayaking, Cycling, Weightlifting, Golf, Judo, Handball, and Sailing, as well as four winter sports including Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Ice Skating and Snow Shoeing.

There are many business class airlines to Athens that connect major US cities like Boston, Honolulu, Chicago, Seattle, Miami, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles, etc. If you are flying from US, you must explore all your options. Visiting Athens for Special Olympics World Summer Games 2011 would be indeed great for you as well as for the athletes who need your encouragement and support.