Special Olympics International Rowing Meeting

Inclusive rowing arrives in Rome

The Special Olympics International Rowing Meeting brought a major international sporting event dedicated to inclusive rowing to Rome for the first time, from April 24 to 26, 2026. Hosted by the Reale Circolo Canottieri Tevere Remo in the Flaminio district, the event marked the launch of rowing as an official Special Olympics sport, with the ambition of becoming a recurring international fixture in the heart of Rome, in the Lazio region.

Three days of racing on the Tiber

For three days, the Club transformed into a place of meeting and sharing for athletes with and without intellectual disabilities, coaches, and delegations from Italy and abroad. The competitions followed the Unified Sports model, where athletes and partners compete together. The technical program included:

• water races in four-person boats, with crews composed of two athletes and two partners;
• 500-meter timed trials;
• individual indoor rowing competitions;
• unified relays.

The timed heats of the first days were followed by finals and award ceremonies, in a festive atmosphere that involved athletes, families, and the public.

International delegations

The first edition saw significant international participation, with delegations coming in particular from Germany, Greece, Libya, and Portugal, alongside Italian teams. The Meeting was part of the lead-up to the National Summer Games and subsequent European stages of the Movement, serving as a valuable testing ground for the Italian athletes.

Coach for Inclusion and Unified Experience

Alongside the races, the program provided ample space for training and participation. The Coach for Inclusion course, aimed at Italian and international coaches, offered concrete tools to make training increasingly accessible and inclusive. On Sunday, April 26, the Unified Experience saw mixed crews composed of athletes, partner athletes, and institutional representatives rowing together, testifying to the spirit of sharing that drives the Movement. Inclusivity and accessibility were guaranteed throughout the event, thanks in part to the presence of LIS interpreters and dedicated services.

An event in the heart of Flaminio

The choice of the Reale Circolo Canottieri Tevere Remo, a historic rowing club overlooking the Tiber in the Flaminio district, combined Roman sporting tradition with the Special Olympics message of inclusion. The opening ceremony, with the parade of delegations, the lighting of the flame of hope, and the athletes' oath, kicked off an event that aims to become a classic in the sporting calendar of Rome and the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in Lazio.