Microsoft Partners with Special Olympics to #UpgradeYourWorld

This month Microsoft teamed up with Special Olympics to empower and promote inclusion and respect for people with intellectual disabilities as a part of the Windows 10 #UpgradeYourWorld initiative. On March 17^th and 18^th, athletes with and without intellectual disabilities from Special Olympics Unified Sports teams invited passersby to play impromptu “Streetball” soccer games on projected fields. Held in Los Angeles at Venice Beach and Microsoft Square at LA Live, Streetball raised awareness of Special Olympics’ Unified Sports program, which brings people of all abilities together to train and compete in sports, all while upgrading the world by inspiring friendship and understanding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpIEhPC_mXs

At the event, athletes will have the chance to practice soccer and football skills with Special Olympics coaches, current and past players from the Seattle Sounders FC, and football players from the Everett Reign. Tickets to this unique event are available here – all ticket proceeds will be donated to Special Olympics.

As Special Olympics’ Official Technology Partner, Microsoft has been collaborating with Special Olympics since 2014 to enable athletes to upgrade their world: training harder, tracking performance, achieving personal bests, and receiving encouragement with every step they take. For the 2015 Summer World Games in Los Angeles, Microsoft provided over 2000 devices and support for the Games Management System (GMS) to track athletes’ personal bests in real time for the first time at a major Games event. Together, Microsoft and Special Olympics are working to transform people’s perception of individuals with intellectual disabilities through the power of sport and technology.

Since the launch of Windows 10 in 2015, Microsoft has been working with 10 global nonprofits, highlighting one organization each month to celebrate the work they are doing to #UpgradeYourWorld.

For more information about Special Olympics, visit specialolympics.org. You can learn more about how Special Olympics and Microsoft are working together here, and about Unified Sports here.