After 20 years, the Special Olympic Games has returned to Reus in collaboration with PortAventura World which participated in the organization of the games and contributed to their success; an edition that has marked a turning point in their history, according to the organizing committee.
Held at the Gran Teatro Imperial of PortAventura Park’s China theme area on 25 November, the opening ceremony included a welcome speech delivered by Arturo Mas-Sardà, Chairman of the Board of PortAventura World. Following this, the traditional parade of the delegations participating at the games took place, after which the official Special Olympics flag was presented and the torch was lit. Finally, the spectators were treated to a Christmas show at the Gran Teatro.
The ceremony was also attended by Carles Pellicer, Major of Reus, and Miguel Sagarra, President of Special Olympics Spain, who enjoyed a magical evening along with the rest of the guests. During the ceremony emphasis was placed on promoting a world without frontiers or flags, where the athletes took centre stage.
After the opening ceremony, a party was held at PortAventura World’s El Paso Hotel, where the delegation members stayed during the Special Olympic Games.
PortAventura Business & Events handled logistics, including welcoming and accommodating the 800 athletes from all over Spain and another 18 countries, together with 200 trainers, 400 voluntary workers, 100 voluntary medical staff and members of the organization, for the 2016 Special Olympic Games Spain, the most important sports event in the world for people with intellectual disabilities.
2016 Special Olympic Games Reus
The capital of the Baix Camp hosted the 2016 Special Olympic Games Reus from 23-27 November. During the event, Reus was home to 800 athletes with intellectual disabilities from all over Catalonia, 14 autonomous communities (Andalusia, Aragon, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Castile La Mancha, Castile and Leon, Ceuta, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Melilla, Murcia, Basque Country, and Valencia) and 11 countries (Holland, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, France, Italy, Morocco, Belgium, Finland, and China), taking part in the tennis, paddle tennis, swimming, basketball, rhythmic gymnastics and motor skills competitions held at the town’s magnificent facilities.
The games began on Thursday, 24 November, with the preliminary rounds, and ended on Sunday, 27 November, with the medal giving and closing ceremonies. All the athletes and organizers stayed at PortAventura World’s El Paso Hotel.
The Special Olympics have thus returned to Reus 20 years after being held there for the first time in 1996. Hence, the town council has yet again shown its commitment to this collective. Through its sports department, the council made all the necessary resources available to the organizers, thus contributing to the most successful edition in the history of the games.
2016 Special Olympic Games a great success