SOT official lauds 2023 Special Olympics Games' preparations 

Tanzania is among 170 countries that will send special athletes to the coming Summer Special Olympics slated for June 17-26 in Germany.

Rays said while in Germany he attended the HOD meeting, and toured venues that will host the Games and other logistics.

The SOT leader, who described the visit as important as Tanzania prepares for the Summer Special Olympics Games, said they visited Olympiastadion, the home stadium for Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin, which will host the Games' opening ceremony.

Olympiastadion will host Summer Special Olympics Games events such as athletics, football, futsal, hockey, roller skating, handball, and equestrian.

Rays further said Strabedes Stadium will host cycling events, Beachmitte is the home of beach volleyball, while Wannsee will host sailing.

Messe Berlin, which is used for international exhibitions, will host bocce, table tennis, badminton, powerlifting, judo, volleyball, basketball, artistic, and rhythmic gymnastic.

The Messe Berlin will also host non-sporting events such as presentation ceremonies, congress, and a healthy athletes program.

"I left Tanzania last Sunday for Germany where I attended Head of Delegation (HOD) meetings, and visit venues for this year's Summer Special Olympics Games," the SOT leader revealed.

"I visited our village (where the Tanzania team will reside) and I'm expected back home on Sunday, the tour was good as, among others, I managed to connect with other HODs and learn from them," he said.

Tanzania's team made up of 31 people is expected to depart for Germany on June 12, it will participate in athletics and unified volleyball.

SOT said it needs more than 191m/-to send the contingent made up of athletes, coaches, team doctors, and officials.

The government, through National Sports Council (NSC), promised SOT that it will sponsor half of the team's trip to Germany.

Neema Msitha, NSC Secretary-General, said the government is committed to seeing that people with intellectual challenges are fully involved in sporting activities hence the support.

“We are committed to seeing that people with disabilities and those with intellectual challenges are fully involved in sporting activities," the NSC leader noted.

"The SOT leaders informed us that it plans to send 31 people to the Summer Special Olympics Games," Neema revealed.

Neema added: "Being a government that is committed to vouching for inclusive sports, we will take care of air tickets for half of the group."

"We appeal to stakeholders and others to help SOT so that it can send all 31 delegates,” she said.

Athletes in the Germany-bound team were selected in SOT subprograms/regions which competed in the national games held in Mwanza last year.

This will be the first time that Germany is hosting the World Special Olympics and more than 700 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 170 countries will battle it out in the showdown.

The Special Olympics World Summer Games are held every four years and are the world’s largest inclusive sports event.

Tanzania has been doing well in Special Olympics Games. In last year's Pan African Special Olympics Games that took place in Egypt, Tanzania collected 11 medals.