Perth’s bid for 2027 Special Olympics attracts support

Perth’s bid to host the 2027 Special Olympics World Games has already drawn letters of support from Governor Kim Beazley, Tourism Council WA and SportWest and will be lodged by Special Olympics Australia in July.

Perth was selected as the preferred Australian city in a bid to host the 2027 Special Olympics World Games.

The World Games is twice the size of the Paralympics, and could attract approximately 8000 athletes from 170 nations, almost 20,000 overseas visitors and 500,000 spectators.

Featuring more than 30 Olympic-type sports, Special Olympics World Games athletes must have an intellectual disability to compete and groups athletes based on scores and age for fair competition against others of similar ability.

SportWest is in full support of this bid and excited by the prospect of Perth being the host city to such an incredible event.

Sport has the power to shape and transform the lives of participants, volunteers, officials and families involved. People with an intellectual disability should have the same opportunities to benefit from sport and hosting an event of this calibre in Perth would provide Western Australia an opportunity to transform how we include people with intellectual disabilities and create a legacy for future generations.

Dr Timothy Shriver leads the Special Olympics International Board of Directors and his personal invitation for Perth to bid to host the Special Olympics World Games 2027 can be viewed below.

If you are interested in getting involved in Perth 2027, sign the letter of support here