Digicel is helping to send the Special Olympics Samoa Team to the World Games in Abu Dhabi in March. 

The company has pledged a further $60,000 in addition to its annual sponsorship to assist with the delegation’s airfares as the anticipation grows of sending the 17 young athletes to represent our island nation.

“I commend and duly acknowledge the remarkable work of the management, coaches as well as the young men and women for the Special Olympics Samoa Team,” says Digicel CEO, Farid Mohammed.

“It is here we as a nation will be able to see their abilities and not their disabilities and it is reaffirmed in every athletes excitement, dignity and joy in participating in the games. Digicel have always been supportive of everything Special Olympics since its inception and we are carrying that support all the way to the World Games.” 

Digicel Chairman, Denis O’Brien, who has always had Special Olympics close to his heart and will be attending the World Games in support of Team Samoa and other Digicel Special Olympics teams from across the Pacific and the Caribbean,” said Leta’a Maiava Devoe, Chairman of Special Olympics Samoa.

“It is going to be an amazing achievement for our athletes and our nation as a whole to be represented at such a huge international event. For the young men and women who will represent Samoa, this will be a life changing experience for them, to be among 7,000 athletes from over 170 countries. We are extremely grateful for Digicel’s continuous support throughout the years.”

In addition, Digicel with Special Olympics Samoa have launched the Text to Donate campaign to raise funds for the local athletes and coaches to assist with their expenses during the World Games. Funds raised will be used to finance accommodation; all logistics, administration, sporting equipment and tools required to enable the athletes to compete in the games.

Digicel customers can donate by texting keyphrase “SOS” to text line 1155, each text costs WST$1 tala and all proceeds will go towards the Special Olympics Samoa management.

Special Olympics was created to address the neglect and disregard of this population by using sport as a vehicle and stage for demonstrating the dignity and capability of people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID). Special Olympics was designed to offer direct service, support and a rare opportunity to people with ID, but, at the same time, to impact the perspectives of society at large toward this population. 

Over the 50 years of Special Olympics history, there is extensive documentation of competitions waged, medals won and barriers overcome around the world. Athletes, families, coaches, volunteers and spectators repeatedly have witnessed many small and large miracles through Special Olympics.