The Special Olympics are the largest inclusive sporting event in the world. In June 2023, the Games took place in Germany for the first time – with an opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin that focused on all levels of inclusion. Thousands of athletes with intellectual and development disabilities celebrated a colorful festival of sport and participation together with guests from all over the globe.

The aim was to create an event that made inclusion tangible – with the highest level of quality and staging that brought people together. The show was to set a benchmark for future inclusion projects and at the same time convey the unique spirit of the Special Olympics.

A stadium production of such large proportions meant coordinating numerous trades. Constructing a large-format LED wall at the Olympic Stadium’s marathon gate was particularly challenging from a technical point of view. What’s more, live cameras, LED surfaces, and the TV broadcast needed to be managed seamlessly.

POOLgroup managed every aspect of the opening ceremony.

• Audio systems, lighting, rigging & stage automation, media technology & IT, event infrastructure
• Technical planning, logistics, event design and production

Hundreds of participants were integrated into the large-scale presentation. The combination of performance, live broadcast, and accessible IT infrastructure created an event that combined artistic expression with a social message.

The audience experienced a spectacular production that was also a profoundly human project. Naturally, athletes with intellectual and development disabilities played an active role on stage and behind the scenes. Music, lighting, projections, and performances merged into a powerful experience that made the spirit of inclusion emotionally and immediately tangible.

The opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin established a benchmark for inclusive events. The show combined worldwide media attention with a deeply human experience and proved that technical precision and social responsibility can go hand in hand.

Our long-standing partnership with mediapool Veranstaltungsgesellschaft and joint collaboration on various projects – from national celebrations to anniversaries – established the groundwork for mutual trust that made this exceptional event possible.