Special Olympics Deutschland in Hessen e. V.

What Special Olympics Deutschland in Hessen e. V. does

Special Olympics Deutschland in Hessen e. V. (SOHE) is the Hessen state-level chapter of Special Olympics Deutschland, a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) under German law. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, the organization serves athletes with intellectual and multiple disabilities in the German state of Hessen. It operates as part of a federated structure within Special Olympics Deutschland e.V. (founded 1991, DOSB Spitzenverband status) and the global Special Olympics movement spanning 174 countries.

SOHE delivers a multi-discipline sports program covering 27 sports, complemented by the licensed Healthy Athletes® health-screening program (seven disciplines: Fit Feet, FUNfitness, Health Promotion, Healthy Hearing, Opening Eyes, Special Smiles, Strong Minds). Its core products include year-round training and competitions, the periodic Landesspiele Hessen state games (most recently Hanau 2025), and dedicated projects — Stark im Verein (club-based inclusion) and BeuGe (Bewegung und Gesundheit, bringing sport into residential and facility settings) — alongside a youth program (SOHE Jugend), an Athletes' Council, and the SOHEld magazine.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid non-profit model combining membership fees (€150–€750/year depending on tier), individual and corporate donations, and project-specific grants from federal/state ministries (BMAS, Hessisches Ministerium für Familie), major foundations (Aktion Mensch, Beate Heraeus Stiftung, Commerzbank Stiftung, Flughafen Stiftung Frankfurt Main), statutory health insurers (GKV, vdek, IKK Südwest), and corporate sponsors (Würth, ABB, adidas, Deutsche Telekom, Sparkasse, Coca-Cola, Henry Schein Cares, Mars Wrigley Foundation). The organization operates with a lean paid headcount of approximately 6 employees, supported by an extensive volunteer network and event-driven engagement.

Name

Special Olympics Deutschland in Hessen e. V.

Legal name

Special Olympics Deutschland in Hessen e. V.

Website

https://so-he.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Special Olympics Hessen is the Hessen state chapter of Special Olympics Deutschland, delivering inclusive sports programs, state games, and the Healthy Athletes health-screening program for people with intellectual disabilities in Hessen, Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive Sports Programs

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Other Spectator Sports (711219), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific) (MPAKAFAL), Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM), Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD)

Keywords

• Inclusive sports programs
• Disability athletics
• Health screening services
• Community sports events
• Membership sports association

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt am Main

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees collected from personal members, sports clubs, and institutions. Fees vary by category and size, ranging from €150 per year for schools to €750 per year for large carrier organizations.
2. Donations: Donations from individuals and organizations made to the association, with a dedicated bank account (IBAN: DE47 5065 0023 0000 1536 35, BIC: HELADEF1HAN, Sparkasse Hanau).
3. Project Funding and Grants: Project-specific funding from public institutions (e.g., Hessisches Ministerium für Familie), foundations (Aktion Mensch, Beate Heraeus Stiftung, Commerzbank Stiftung, Flughafen Stiftung Frankfurt Main, etc.), and statutory health insurers (GKV) for programs such as Stark im Verein and BeuGe.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Special Olympics Hessen organizes and delivers year-round inclusive sports training, competitions in 27 sports disciplines, and the regional Landesspiele Hessen state games for people with intellectual disabilities in Hessen, Germany. The organization supplements these sport programs with the licensed Healthy Athletes® health screening and education program, membership tiers for individuals, sports clubs, and institutions, and community-based inclusion projects (Stark im Verein, BeuGe). Programs are delivered directly through staff, volunteer networks, partnered clubs, schools, workshops, and residential facilities, with funding from membership fees, donations, public grants, foundations, and corporate sponsors.

Product overview

Special Olympics Hessen (SOHE) is a sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities in the state of Hessen, Germany, affiliated with Special Olympics Deutschland (SOD). It operates as a platform of interconnected programs rather than a single product. The core offering is its multi-discipline sports program spanning 27 sports (including athletics, swimming, football, tennis, boccia, skiing, and more), supported by the Healthy Athletes® health program with seven health disciplines (Fit Feet, FUNfitness, Health Promotion, Healthy Hearing, Opening Eyes, Special Smiles, Strong Minds). Access to sports is enabled through membership options for individuals, sports clubs, and institutions. The organization delivers regional multi-sport events (Landesspiele), runs dedicated youth and project programs (SOHE Jugend, Projekt Stark im Verein, Projekt BeuGe), and communicates through its magazine SOHEld. For the Special Olympics National Games Saarland 2026, a dedicated mobile event app was launched, available on iOS and Android app stores.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Special Olympics Hessen Sportprogramm Year-round sports programs for people with intellectual disabilities across 27 disciplines including athletics, swimming, tennis, football, boccia, judo, skiing, and more. Includes training, competitions, and Unified Sports® offerings where athletes with and without disabilities compete together; available to athletes, sports clubs, and institutions in Hessen.
• Healthy Athletes® Programm Licensed health program offering free health screenings and health education across seven disciplines: Fit Feet (podiatry), FUNfitness (physiotherapy), Health Promotion (nutrition and lifestyle), Healthy Hearing (ENT), Opening Eyes (vision), Special Smiles (dental), and Strong Minds (mental well-being). Delivered at competitions and outreach settings for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
• Mitgliedschaft Special Olympics Hessen Three membership tiers for individuals, sports clubs, and institutions in Hessen. Personal members gain access to training, education, family programs, newsletters, and individual counseling. Club and institution members receive support for establishing inclusive sports groups, training, funding advice, and participation in competitions and projects. Annual fees scale by member category and size from €150 (schools) to €750 (large carrier organizations).
• Landesspiele Hessen Regional multi-sport games of Special Olympics Hessen held periodically (e.g., Landesspiele Hanau 2025). Features competitions across multiple sports disciplines with awards ceremonies, opening and closing ceremonies, and athlete engagement events for athletes with intellectual disabilities in Hessen.
• Projekt Stark im Verein Project strengthening the involvement of people with disabilities in club life within regular sports clubs. Funded by multiple partners including Gesunde Lebenswelten, Gesundheitsamt Frankfurt am Main, Stadt Frankfurt am Main, Polytechnische Stiftung, vdek, and Aktion Mensch, it actively integrates individuals with impairments into regular sports clubs and their offerings across Hessen.
• Projekt BeuGe (Bewegung und Gesundheit) Project bringing sport and health activities directly into daily living, residential, and leisure settings across Hessen. Funded by the GKV-Bündnis für Gesundheit, BeuGe supports sport participation in Wohnen (residential), Freizeit (leisure), and Einrichtungen (facilities) environments for people with intellectual disabilities.
• SOHE Jugend Youth program providing engagement opportunities and leadership development for younger participants connected to Special Olympics Hessen, including an Athletes' Council election process for youth representatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 40,000 athletes participate in Special Olympics Deutschland nationwide.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Hessisches Ministerium für Familie (Family Ministry of Hessen)coreOthersGovernment ministry providing core funding and institutional support for Special Olympics Hessen as the state-level sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities in Hessen.
• Aktion MenschcoreOthersMajor German social lottery foundation that funds the Landesspiele 2025 and other inclusion projects such as Stark im Verein, providing significant project-based financial support.
• Beate Heraeus StiftungcoreOthersFoundation supporting the Landesspiele 2025 with project funding for inclusive sport events in Hessen.
• Commerzbank StiftungsupportingOthersFoundation providing project funding for the Landesspiele 2025 as part of its social responsibility activities.
• Engelbert StrausssupportingOthersWorkwear company providing project funding for the Landesspiele 2025.
• Flughafen Stiftung Frankfurt MainsupportingOthersFoundation associated with Frankfurt Airport providing funding for the Landesspiele 2025.
• Rhenus LogisticssupportingOthersLogistics company sponsoring the Landesspiele 2025.
• Sparkasse HanaucoreOthersLocal savings bank providing project funding for the Landesspiele 2025 and serving as the donation bank for Special Olympics Hessen (IBAN: DE47 5065 0023 0000 1536 35).
• Stadt HanaucoreOthersThe city of Hanau hosted the 2025 State Games and provided institutional support as the host municipality.
• Union InvestmentsupportingOthersInvestment management company providing project funding for the Landesspiele 2025.
• Hit Radio FFHsupportingOthersRegional radio station serving as media partner for the Landesspiele 2025, providing coverage and promotion for the event.
• Gesunde LebensweltensupportingOthersFoundation funding the Stark im Verein project, which strengthens the inclusion of people with disabilities in sports clubs.
• Gesundheitsamt Frankfurt am MainsupportingOthersMunicipal health authority co-funding the Stark im Verein project in Frankfurt.
• Stadt Frankfurt am MainsupportingOthersCity of Frankfurt supporting the Stark im Verein project through project funding.
• Polytechnische StiftungsupportingOthersFoundation funding the Stark im Verein project as part of its social mission.
• vdek (Verband der Ersatzkassen)supportingOthersAssociation of substitute health insurance funds funding the Stark im Verein project.
• GKV (GKV-Bündnis für Gesundheit)supportingOthersStatutory health insurance alliance funding the BeuGe project (Bewegung und Gesundheit), which brings sport into living, leisure, and facility settings.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Medizin für Menschen mit geistiger oder mehrfacher Behinderung e.V. (DGMGB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional medical society providing clinical expertise and cooperation for the implementation of the Healthy Athletes program, ensuring medical standards for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
• Bundeszahnärztekammer (German Dental Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational dental association partnering on the Special Smiles® health discipline, providing dental health professionals and standards for oral health screenings.
• Bundesärztekammer (German Medical Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational medical association supporting the Healthy Athletes program and its health disciplines, contributing medical expertise and professional network.
• WürthcoreOthersLong-standing Premium Partner of Special Olympics Deutschland, providing financial sponsorship and personal engagement (former Vice President Carmen Würth served for many years).
• ABBcoreOthersPremium Partner of Special Olympics Deutschland since 2000, providing financial sponsorship and employee volunteers who support events on-site.
• adidascoreOthersPremium Partner providing athletic apparel, equipment, and sponsorship for athletes and events.
• GlobuscoreOthersPremium Partner of Special Olympics Deutschland, providing sponsorship support.
• Sparkasse FinanzgruppecoreOthersPremium Partner providing financial sponsorship and local banking support.
• Deutsche TelekomcoreOthersPremium Partner and sponsor, including support for the Special Olympics Athlete of the Year award initiative.
• Coca-ColasupportingOthersPartner of Special Olympics Deutschland providing beverage sponsorship at events.
• IKK SüdwestsupportingOthersStatutory health insurer providing support for the Healthy Athletes program in the southwest region.
• Henry Schein CaressupportingOthersCorporate social responsibility program of Henry Schein (dental/medical supplies) supporting the Healthy Athletes program with in-kind donations of dental and medical supplies.
• Mars Wrigley FoundationsupportingOthersFoundation supporting the Healthy Athletes program and Special Olympics Deutschland's health initiatives.
• Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (BMAS)coreOthersGerman Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs providing government funding for Special Olympics Deutschland as a top-level sports federation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Aktion Mensch: Major German social lottery and funding foundation that finances SOHE's Landesspiele and Stark im Verein. Comparable as a funder/ecosystem participant in the German disability-inclusion space; its funding priorities directly affect SOHE's program runway.

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics International: Global umbrella organization for the Special Olympics movement spanning 174 countries. Comparable offering includes the Worldwide Games, Healthy Athletes® licensing, and the Athlete Leadership Programs that SOHE's programs are derived from.
• Deutscher Behindertensportverband (DBS): National German umbrella for disability sports and National Paralympic Committee. Comparable in serving athletes with disabilities across Germany, organizing competitions, and interfacing with DOSB and federal ministries — though broader than SOHE's intellectual-disability focus.
• Special Olympics Europe Eurasia: Regional Special Olympics body covering Europe and Eurasia. Comparable in coordinating multi-country events, training, and Healthy Athletes® rollout that SOHE's programs ultimately ladder up to.

Direct peers

• Special Olympics Bayern: Another sister state chapter of Special Olympics Deutschland, comparable in member-funded model, volunteer-driven event execution, and multi-sport offering for athletes with intellectual disabilities in a single German state.
• Special Olympics Deutschland e.V. The national parent federation of SOHE. Directly comparable as the German governing body for Special Olympics run nationally across 16 state chapters; identical mission, programs (Healthy Athletes®, Unified Sports®, Landesspiele), and DOSB Spitzenverband status.
• Special Olympics Baden-Württemberg: Sister state chapter (Landesverband) of Special Olympics Deutschland offering the same program suite (sports, Healthy Athletes®, Landesspiele) in a neighboring German state. The most structurally comparable peer to SOHE.

Regional players

• Lebenshilfe Hessen: Hessen state branch of Lebenshilfe, the largest German advocacy and services organization for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable in serving the same Hessen population, though focused on advocacy, housing, and Werkstätten rather than competitive sport.
• Inclusion Handicap (Schweiz): Swiss umbrella organization for disability sports. Comparable in delivering national and regional inclusive sport programs, though operates in Switzerland rather than competing directly in Hessen.
• Gemeinsam leben Hessen (LAG Selbsthilfe): Hessen-based network of disability self-help organizations. Comparable in serving stakeholders with intellectual disabilities in Hessen, though focused on self-advocacy and policy rather than competitive sport.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@specialolympicshessen9450
• Facebookfacebook.com/special.olympics.hessen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-olympics-deutschland-in-hessen-e.-v.
• Instagraminstagram.com/sohessen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Special Olympics Deutschland in Hessen e. V.