Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club Foundation and Special Olympics Israel are partnering to promote greater inclusion and raise public awareness about people with intellectual disabilities through athletic competition and other related programs.

Between September 25-27, Special Olympics Israel will be holding its first ever national games. Over 1,200 athletes will participate in 11 sports including, bowling, kayaking, horse riding and football. The majority of the activities will take place at the Wingate Institute and prior to the start of the games a Torch Relay (between September 18-25) will visit nine cities across the country from Beer Sheva in the south all the way to Beit Shean in the north. Thousands of supporters and fans will take part in the Torch Relay.

By partnering with Special Olympics, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC joins leading football clubs world wide including Ajax Amsterdam, Inter Milan, Tottenham and Celtic as a Team Ambassador along with many other clubs world wide. By becoming a Team Ambassador, just as the first Israel Special Olympics Games are about to take place, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC is making a statement attesting to the importance of raising awareness about the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities by promoting inclusion, generating greater public awareness and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities. Through the cooperation, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation and Special Olympics will give these athletes the opportunity through sports to realize their potential, develop physically, mentally and socially.