Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023

What Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 does

Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 Organizing Committee gGmbH is a non-profit entity established in 2023 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Special Olympics Deutschland e.V. (SOD) to organize the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin. The entity delivered a nine-day international sporting event from June 17-25, 2023—the first time the Special Olympics World Games were held in Germany—featuring approximately 26 Olympic-style sports across venues including Olympiapark, Messe Berlin, Wannsee, Grünau, Bad Saarow, SSE, and Bowling World. The event drew athletes with intellectual and multiple disabilities from 170 nations, supported by thousands of volunteers (in distinctive purple shirts) and complemented by programs including Healthy Athletes (health screening in 7 disciplines), Unified Sports (joint teams of athletes with and without disabilities), and the Host Town Program (pairing each of the 170 delegations with a German host community). Revenue was generated through ticket sales, merchandise (specialolympics.shop), a multi-tiered sponsorship program anchored by Premium Partners Coca-Cola, REWE Group, Deutsche Telekom, and Toyota, secondary partners including Nike and Airbnb, a Media Alliance with major German broadcasters (ARD, ZDF, RTL, Sky, DAZN, ProSiebenSat.1), and co-funding from the European Union and German federal and state government bodies.

The operating technology stack is composed entirely of commercial SaaS products rather than proprietary systems: Monday.com (CRM, hosted on AWS in Germany), Personio (HR/recruitment), Rosterfy (volunteer management), Vivenu (ticketing), MyEventum (athlete results portal), Google Analytics, Sendinblue and MailChimp (newsletters), 123Formbuilder and Microsoft Forms (registration forms), and Google Maps (venue mapping). No public API, developer platform, or AI/ML capability is documented. The entity's operating status is now closed following the conclusion of the games, with the website retained for historical and follow-up content.

Name

Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023

Legal name

Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 Organizing Committee gGmbH

Website

https://berlin2023.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 Organizing Committee gGmbH is a non-profit, single-event entity that delivered the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin (June 17-25, 2023)—the first such games held in Germany—serving approximately 7,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 170 nations across 26 sports, funded by EU and German government grants, corporate sponsors, ticket sales, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive Sports Events

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

International Multi-Sport Games Organizing Committees (e.g., Olympics, Commonwealth) (MPAKADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH), Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM)

Keywords

• Inclusive sports events
• Adaptive athletics programs
• Disability sports competitions
• Health screening programs
• Volunteer event coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: The event sold tickets for various sports competitions, opening ceremony, closing ceremony, and Special Olympics Festival
2. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling Special Olympics merchandise including clothing, accessories, and memorabilia
3. Sponsorship Revenue: Multi-tiered sponsorship program with Premium Partners (Coca-Cola, REWE, Telekom, Toyota), Partners (Nike, Airbnb, Freshfields, and others), and Supporters (over 30 companies)
4. Government Funding: Co-funded by the European Union and supported by German federal and state government bodies including Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 Organizing Committee gGmbH organized and delivered the world's largest inclusive sports event, held June 17-25, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. The core offering centered on a 9-day multi-sport international competition featuring approximately 26 Olympic-style sports for athletes with intellectual and multiple disabilities from 170 nations. Supporting programs included Unified Sports, Healthy Athletes health screenings, the Host Town Program, ceremonies, volunteer coordination, ticketing services, and official merchandise.

Product overview

The Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 is a portfolio of programs and services centered on the world's largest inclusive sports event, held June 17-25, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. The core offering is the multi-day international sporting competition featuring approximately 26 Olympic-style sports. This is complemented by inclusive programs including Unified Sports (joint teams of athletes with and without disabilities), the Healthy Athletes health screening program, and the Host Town Program hosting 170 delegations in German municipalities. Supporting services include the Special Olympics Festival (public cultural events at multiple Berlin venues including Brandenburg Gate and Neptunbrunnen), Activity Zone hands-on sports experiences, volunteer coordination, the Torch Run relay, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and an online ticketing platform. The event also maintains a registration data management system for athletes, a dedicated results/athlete portal (myeventum.com), and an official merchandise shop. All offerings are designed to promote inclusion and recognition of people with intellectual disabilities through sport.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 The primary event — a 9-day multi-sport international sporting competition for athletes with intellectual and multiple disabilities. Held June 17-25, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. Featured approximately 26 sports across multiple venues including Olympiapark, Messe Berlin, City Cluster, Wannsee, Grünau, Bad Saarow, SSE, and Bowling World.
• Sports Competition Program Approximately 26 Olympic-style sports competitions including Athletics, Swimming, Football, Basketball, Judo, Tennis, Badminton, Handball, Futsal, Volleyball, Boccia, Table Tennis, Golf, Cycling, Equestrian, Roller Skating, Sailing, Canoeing, Open Water Swimming, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Artistic Gymnastics, Powerlifting, Field Hockey, Beach Volleyball, Bowling, and 3x3 Basketball.
• Unified Sports A program where athletes with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete together on the same teams, promoting inclusion through sport.
• Healthy Athletes A health screening and wellness program providing free health services to athletes including dental care, vision screening, hearing tests, and fitness evaluations to promote healthy lifestyles.
• Host Town Program (170 Nations - 170 Inclusive Communities) A pre-Games program where delegations from 170 nations were hosted by German municipalities for cultural exchange and integration activities before the main competition in Berlin.
• Special Olympics Festival A public festival held at Neptunbrunnen in Berlin Mitte and other city locations featuring cultural events, entertainment, and inclusive activities for visitors. Part of the non-sports programming to engage the broader community.
• Special Olympics World Games Tickets Ticketing services for spectator access to sports competitions, ceremonies, and festival events. Provided through the Vivenu ticketing platform.
• Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 Online Shop Official merchandise shop selling Special Olympics branded products, apparel, and memorabilia.
• Opening Ceremony The grand opening ceremony held at the Olympiastadion Berlin to officially launch the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023.
• Closing Ceremony The closing ceremony held at Brandenburg Gate featuring fireworks and the extinguishing of the flame to mark the conclusion of the Games.
• Torch Run A relay event carrying the Special Olympics torch through Germany to Berlin to symbolize the journey to the World Games.
• Activity Zone An interactive zone at Messe Berlin offering visitors the opportunity to try sports and experience inclusive activities firsthand.
• Volunteer Program A program recruiting and coordinating thousands of volunteers (in distinctive purple shirts) to support event operations across all venues and functions.
• Athlete Results Portal Online portal (myeventum.com) providing access to athlete profiles and competition results from the World Games.
• Unified Generation A youth engagement program promoting inclusion and leadership among young people through educational activities and sports participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• First time Special Olympics World Games held in Germany
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered premium partner, partner, media alliance, regional partner and technology partner.

• Coca-Colapremium partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2023Premium Partner of the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, providing marketing and promotional support for the world's largest inclusive sports event
• REWE Grouppremium partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2023Premium Partner providing corporate sponsorship and retail support for the games
• Deutsche Telekompremium partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2023Premium Partner and Media Partner (Magenta TV) providing technology and broadcast support
• Toyotapremium partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2023Premium Partner supporting mobility and transportation aspects of the event
• NikepartnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2023Partner providing athletic apparel and equipment support
• AirbnbpartnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2023Partner providing accommodation services for visiting delegations and spectators
• Freshfields Bruckhaus DeringerpartnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 17 June 2023Partner providing legal and consulting services for event organization
• ARDmedia allianceGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2023Media Alliance partner providing TV broadcast coverage
• ZDFmedia allianceGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2023Media Alliance partner providing TV broadcast coverage
• RTL Deutschlandmedia allianceGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2023Media Alliance partner providing TV and streaming coverage
• Sky Deutschlandmedia allianceGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2023Media Alliance partner providing sports broadcast coverage
• DAZNmedia allianceGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2023Media Alliance partner providing streaming coverage
• ProSiebenSat.1media allianceGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2023Media Alliance partner providing TV broadcast coverage
• Sport1media allianceGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2023Media Alliance partner providing sports media coverage
• Sportmetropole Berlinregional partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2023Regional sports promotion organization supporting Berlin as host city
• Rosterfytechnology partnerTechnology or Integration · 17 June 2023Volunteer management platform used for coordinating thousands of event volunteers
• Monday.comtechnology partnerTechnology or Integration · 17 June 2023CRM and collaborative workspace platform used as contact database and communication tool with delegations
• Personiotechnology partnerTechnology or Integration · 17 June 2023HR software used for recruitment and applicant tracking

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics International: The global governing body and brand owner of the Special Olympics movement. It is the parent of the broader ecosystem to which the Berlin 2023 LOC belongs, sets movement-wide standards, and operates World Games on a recurring cycle.

Direct peers

• Commonwealth Games Federation: Organizes the Commonwealth Games, a recurring international multi-sport event. Comparable as another large international multi-sport games organizing entity with sponsorship, ticketing, and broadcast-rights structures analogous to the Special Olympics World Games.
• World Transplant Games Federation: Organizes international multi-sport events for transplant recipients. Another disability/health-condition specific multi-sport games organizer with a comparable niche mission-driven positioning and recurring cadence.
• International Paralympic Committee (IPC): Organizer of the Paralympic Games — the most prominent international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities. Directly comparable as a multi-sport, adaptive-athlete event organizer with a global sponsorship and broadcast model.
• Invictus Games Foundation: Organizes the Invictus Games for wounded, injured, and sick service members. Closely comparable as an international adaptive multi-sport event built on a strong brand, sponsorship stack, and ceremonial/ceremony-driven programming.
• The World Games (IWGA): Organizes international multi-sport events for sports not on the Olympic program. Comparable as a recurring international multi-sport games organizer with similar host-city bidding, volunteer, and media alliance mechanics.
• Special Olympics USA Games: National-level (US) edition of the Special Olympics Games. Closely comparable in event design, sport count, athlete screening, and Host Town equivalents — direct operational sibling to the Berlin 2023 LOC within the same movement.
• International Committee of the Deaflympics (ICSD): Organizes the Deaflympics, an international multi-sport event for deaf athletes. Comparable as a disability-focused multi-sport games organizer with a similar recurring cycle, mission-driven positioning, and inclusion narrative.

Regional players

• Maccabiah Games: Israel-based quadrennial international multi-sport event. Comparable multi-sport games organizer model, but operates primarily in a different geographic context (Israel/diaspora) than the Berlin 2023 LOC.

Emerging players

• Warrior Games (Invictus-related / DoD): Adaptive multi-sport competition for wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans. Comparable as a recent adaptive multi-sport event with growing sponsor and media interest, though smaller in global scale than Berlin 2023.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SOWG_Berlin2023
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjp53rmx9O5i0kx6dheBvhw
• Facebookfacebook.com/SOWG.Berlin2023
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berlin2023
• Instagraminstagram.com/sowg_berlin2023

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023