The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation teamed up with Special Olympics East Asia (SOEA) on July 31st to demonstrate the power of football by bringing together Foundation staff, Special Olympics East Asia coaches and volunteers to deliver a very unique coaching clinic for local Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities. SOEA officials and volunteers from local universities also presented.

The football coaching clinic involved 20 Special Olympics athletes’ ages 16 years plus of mixed ability and was aimed at creating a fun filled experience while demonstrating communication skills required to coach athletes who have a intellectual disability.

First team goalkeeping coach Tony Parks worked alongside the Club’s Foundation coaches at Si De Park in Beijing, bringing his coaching expertise to the session.

He commented on the success of the coaching clinic, “The Foundation coaches are doing a fantastic job, they put in a lot of hard work in the local community in and around Tottenham and now they are on a bigger stage, bringing their work out to places like China.

“My overriding impression was just seeing how happy the athletes are playing football, seeing them work in teams, it was a fantastic experience. Football has a role to play and a responsibility in the community. You see how good the club is at going out and reaching to all parts of the community and it’s important we maintain those links.”

Ms. Anna Chan, Managing Director of SOEA said, “we are very grateful that coaches from Tottenham Hotspur facilitate this football clinic for Special Olympics athletes during their tight schedule, providing our athletes with first-rate professional football coaching experience. Special Olympics launched Global Football Development Initiative last year to promote football around the world. We believe that the popular sport of football will help Special Olympics athletes to enjoy the fun of sports and promote acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities among general public.”

First team goalkeeping coach Tony Parks with SO athlete

Gareth Jones coaching SO athletes

Trevor Duberry coaching SO athlete

Group photo

The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation is involved with Special Olympics at local, national and international level through their commitment towards making sport inclusive, and providing the most appropriate player pathway for disabled people from grass roots to elite levels of sport.

The Foundation is supported by Tottenham Hotspur Football club to promote awareness of the Special Olympics movement, recruit new athletes and jointly fundraise to create innovative partnership work.

The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation is the Official Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Grassroots Football Provider. This partnership focuses on delivering specialised coaching sessions across Europe and elsewhere around the world, such as the one in Beijing.