Countdown to the Games
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17-25 June 2023

Football

Telekom logo as Presenting Partner of our football competitions

Know your facts:

  • Football has been a sport at Special Olympics World Games since 1987
  • Unified Sports? Yes
  • Estimated number of athletes participating: 475 athletes+ 129 Unified partners

The goal of the Special Olympics football competitions is the same as football competitions all over the world: to get the ball into the net!
 

Special Olympics feature:

In our competitions seven players play against seven players with some special rules:

  • The goalkeeper throws the ball into play.
  • The goal has a size of 5x2 meters.
  • A team has a maximum of 12 players, substitutions are unlimited.
  • There is no offside rule.
  • After the ball has been out of bounds, it must be kicked back into play, and no direct goal can be scored.
  • There are two halves of 20 minutes each, with a five minute halftime break. 
  • If there is a tie at the end of the game, there will be two five-minute overtime periods. If no team is victorious after that, it goes directly to a penalty shootout.

We have four competitions:

  1. Team Competition - Women
  2. Team Competition - Men
  3. Unified Sports Team Competition - Women
  4. Unified Sports Team Competition - Men

By the way:

Football was played in China as early as the 3rd century B.C. At that time, the game was called Cuju, which means "kicking ball".

Tickets


The football competitions are ticketed.



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Schedule


All timings of our competitions and award ceremonies.


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Spectator Guide


All information for visiting football.



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The photo shows two soccer teams just running onto the field.
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On the photo, there is a football player in action jumping towards the ball. His opponent is trying to stop him.
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On the photo, there are three football players during a match. One of them is kicking the ball while the other two are her opponents.
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The photo shows a football action scene. It was taken from behind the goal so the net is visible.
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In the photo you can see the soccer team of Special Olympics Germany. They are standing in a circle and shouting loudly.
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The photo shows two football players in action while one of them is dynamically kicking the ball.
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The photo shows a group of football players smiling and hugging on the pitch.
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The photo shows a football player running with the ball during competition.
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In the photo there is a soccer player who is holding the ball in his hand. He is wearing a gray t-shirt and looks concentrated.
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Olympiapark


Football takes place at Maifeld on the grounds of Olympiapark.