2011 Special Olympics in Athens

The Games' emblem — a radiant sun, source of life — underscoring the outstanding achievement and strength of the athletes taking part. The achievement is symbolised by the olive branch, and the strength by the spiral at the sun's centre. Encircling the emblem are the inscription "XIII Special Olympics W.S.G. Athens 2011" and the issuing state "ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ"; the mint mark sits between the two inscriptions.

The Special Olympics is the world's largest sports movement for people with intellectual and multiple disabilities. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in the United States, it has grown into an international organisation active in more than 170 countries, offering millions of athletes regular training and competition opportunities. The Games follow the founding principle that sporting participation must not depend on cognitive limitations — an approach that, over the decades since its founding, has produced a distinct competitive culture with its own competitions, disciplines and qualification pathways. Greece hosted the XIII Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens in 2011, making it the third time the city staged a major international sporting event, after 1896 and 2004.

Athens, as the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games, combines the idea of fair competition with a historic setting like almost no other city. The choice of the Greek capital as the venue for the 2011 Summer Games was thus more than a matter of logistics: it symbolically drew on the origins of the Olympic idea, which places achievement, participation and respect for the athlete at its centre. As host country, Greece helped raise public awareness of Special Olympics across Europe through this event. Around 7,500 athletes from more than 180 countries took part in the Athens Games — one of the largest editions in Special Olympics history. Greece's 2-euro commemorative coin from 2011 marks this event as part of the national culture of remembrance.