From September 13 – 20, Antwerp, Belgium will host the Special Olympics European Summer Games 2014 – the largest multi-sport event this year for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Badminton is one of the ten sports.

2,000 athletes from 58 countries will compete in 10 sports, demonstrating to Europe and the world their abilities, courage and spirit.  The Games will be officially declared open by HSH Queen Matilda of Belgium and thousands of family members, fans, volunteers, officials, sponsors and spectators will be in Antwerp for the European Games. As well as the excitement of the sports competitions there will be various community-building events throughout the week.

Read more about badminton in the Special Olympics by clicking here.

Heidi and Dries Vangeel: “The Games will help people to see us differently”

Heidi Vangeel is good at different sports: badminton, judo, cycling. She won a gold medal at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens (judo). At the Special Olympics European Summer Games 2014, she will be playing doubles badminton with her brother Dries. They both say it's a dream come true for them.



For more information visit www.SO2014.com or follow the Special Olympics on facebook.com/soeuropeeurasia or on Twitter @SpecOlympicseu