Unified Run

The Lions of Northern Greece co-organized with Special Olympics Hellas the largest unified event in Greece, specifically a Unified Run, a symbolic 1,000-meter race with 150 Special Olympics Hellas athletes, many school children from Northern Greece, and several volunteers.

Unified Sports join people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.

Special Olympics Chairman Dr. Timothy Shriver participated in the event along with Special Olympics CEO Mary Davis, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia President L. David Evangelista, Special Olympics Hellas President Dionysios Kotelas and many Special Olympics officials. The N. Greece Lions Mobile Vision Screening Unit was present and in cooperation with volunteer ophthalmologists, free vision screenings were conducted for Special Olympics Hellas athletes participating in the race as part of the global joint program of the 2 organizations „Healthy Athletes/Opening Eyes“.

The Chairman of Special Olympics showed great interest in the work of the Mobile Unit and congratulated our members for their great contribution to the well-being of the local community and for promoting the Special Olympics values of inclusion, diversity, and solidarity.