Chance of a lifetime for disabled pupils

Possible qualification for 2027 Special Olympics World Summer Games

- By Setumo Stone

North West MEC Viola Motsumi and her education department have been tapped as lead partners for the 2026 Special Olympics South Africa National Summer Games, a high-profile event set to transform opportunities for pupils with intellectual disabilities and ignite a spirit of community pride across Rustenburg and beyond.

Scheduled for the last quarter of 2026, the national sporting spectacle is set to bring together 800 athletes and coaches from all nine provinces, providing unprecedented opportunities for disabled pupils across the region.

For many, it will be the singular opportunity to compete nationally and possibly qualify for the 2027 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Santiago, Chile.

Special Olympics South Africa, led by chairperson and former ANC treasurer-general Dr Mathews Phosa, is a globally affiliated movement dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities through sport, health screenings and leadership development.

The organisation currently serves over 50000 registered athletes nationwide, establishing itself as a leader in disability sports advocacy and community upliftment. Under Phosa’s leadership, the organisation has become “one of the most impactful disability-focused organisations in the country”, according to the concept document.