Skopje, 01.12.2025 - “The European Basketball Week“, organized by Special Olympics North Macedonia together with the Basketball Federation of Macedonia, with support from the United Nations Population Fund – UNFPA, “NLB Bank“ AD Skopje, “Macedonian Telecom“ AD, “Lions Alpha Club“ Skopje and “Sport Life“ on 29.11.2025 (Saturday) united more than 100 athletes, coaches, partners, supporters, and basketball players on one basketball court, in SC “Kale“. As part of the activities, individuals with intellectual disabilities, along with their partners in Unified (Unified) teams, participated in recreational basketball games. By actively involving athletes in the European Basketball Week, together with FIBA and the Basketball Euroleague, Special Olympics North Macedonia called for equality and emphasized the need for equal opportunities for all.
Additionally, in collaboration with “Lions Alpha Club“ Skopje, the competitions were preceded by an eye examination carried out as part of the “Opening Eyes®” program. This program is implemented at an international level and provides basic vision screenings for Special Olympics athletes. The aim of the program is to positively influence the attitudes of optometrists, ophthalmologists, and opticians who volunteer within the program, concerning the care for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Volunteers within the program work on educating athletes, their parents, guardians, and coaches about the importance of vision in performance in sports, school, and work.
“One of our main tasks as a branch of the International Special Olympics is to promote inclusiveness through sports - on the field, but also more broadly. Through the activities we conduct annually with athletes, including the European Basketball Week, we practically demonstrate that if individuals with disabilities are given a hand and included in various social spheres, they gain the opportunity to be equal to others. Our efforts in the field of inclusiveness are recognized by our friends from “NLB Bank“ AD Skopje, “Macedonian Telecom“ AD, UNFPA, “Lions Alpha Club“ Skopje, “Sport Life“, as well as by the Basketball Federation of Macedonia, for which we are extremely grateful. Thanks to their support, we have the opportunity to contribute more actively to nurturing inclusion in our country. I believe that in the spirit of sports and sports values, we will continue in this manner and together we will continue to contribute to a more inclusive society.” – stated Monika Boskoska, President of Special Olympics North Macedonia.
The successful realization of the European Basketball Week confirmed the commitment of Special Olympics North Macedonia in promoting inclusion through sport. The event highlighted the importance of long-term cooperation, coordinated activities, and continuous support to ensure equal opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The organizers expressed gratitude to all partners, participants, and volunteers for their ongoing contribution to this common mission.
