Special Olympics and Microsoft team up to build global inclusive esports
August 13, 2021
This week, Special Olympics announced the inaugural Gaming for Inclusion esports experience presented by Microsoft. Running from September 12-14, the tournament will feature athletes with and without intellectual disabilities showcasing the power of inclusion through gaming.
Special Olympics, who were 2020 Beyond Sport Global Award shortlisters, is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. They work with over six million athletes and Unified Sports partners in over 190 countries and territories.
The virtual multi-day, multi-game esports tournament will engage and connect people of all abilities from around the world. It is the world’s first esports event that will give Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners the opportunity to play games on Xbox. They will be able to compete in Rocket League, Madden NFL 22, and Forza Motorsport 7 on Xbox for the chance to play alongside celebrity supporters, including NBA superstar Jayson Tatum, NFL legend Jamaal Charles and WWE Superstars on 18 September.
Gaming For Inclusion was inspired by the award-winning Xbox Virtual Gaming Event, which Microsoft and Special Olympics hosted in May 2020 in an effort to combat the effects of loneliness and isolation brought on by the pandemic, especially for players with disabilities. The event won Microsoft the Corporate Community Impact Award at the 2021 Sports Humanitarian Awards presented by ESPN for using its platform and the power of sport to create meaningful social change.
“At Xbox, our goal is to make gaming inclusive and welcoming to all players so that everyone can experience the joys of gaming," said Jenn Panattoni, head of Xbox Social Impact. This tournament is a meaningful and important step in making esports more accessible and it empowers Special Olympics athletes with a new way to compete.”
“COVID-19 and the suspension of hundreds of thousands of annual in-person events worldwide meant Special Olympics had to pivot to supporting virtual experiences. Our digital transformation partners at Microsoft brought their expertise in developing scalable and accessible digital platforms that allow people of all abilities to build connections with others through the universal language of gaming," said Prianka Nandy, Chief information and technology officer at Special Olympics. "Together, we've shaped an innovative program that will last well beyond the pandemic.”
The bracket-style tournaments will crown champions for each title. The entire competition will be held through Microsoft's esports platform Smash.gg.
- 12 September: Rocket League Tournament
- 13 September: Forza Motorsport 7 Tournament
- 14 September: Madden NFL 22 Tournament
- 18 September: Celebrity Showcase with winners from tournaments earlier in the week
Viewers can live stream the events on the Xbox Twitch channel and the Special Olympics YouTube channel. After the inaugural event, Special Olympics Programs will have training on how to set up local tournaments through Smash.gg, allowing for year-round gaming practice and competition and preparation for the 2022 Gaming for Inclusion experience.