RTL Deutschland will accompany the Special Olympics National Games in Saarland with comprehensive coverage on TV and in streaming, as well as digital and social media formats. The Special Olympics National Games Saarland are the largest inclusive multisport event in Germany for athletes with intellectual and multiple disabilities. More than 4,000 athletes will compete in more than 20 sports from June 15-20. RTL Deutschland has been supporting the event as part of the Media Alliance for the Special Olympics.
Reports about the people behind the athletic achievements
According to RTL Deutschland, RTL News will report about the competitions and people behind the athletic achievements in its news and journal formats “Deutschland am Morgen”, “Punkt 12”, “RTL Aktuell”, “RTL Nachtjournal”, and the “Vox Nachrichten”. NTV will also add to the editorial coverage. In addition, content will be shown on RTL+, and the digital offerings and social media channels of RTL Deutschland. A trailer of the Special Olympics National Games will complement the offerings as a social spot on TV and on RTL Deutschland’s social media channels.
One report focuses on Christian Pohler, Special Olympics athlete with Down syndrome. He proves that people with disabilities can play a challenging sport like golf: At the National Games, he aims to qualify for the 2027 World Games in Chile – alongside his partner, Jan Posselt. They will compete in the “Unified” category. Here, athletes with and without disabilities compete together, a unique feature of the Special Olympics.
“Pure passion, team spirit, and lived inclusion”
A football team of the Berliner Werkstätten für Menschen mit Behinderung (BWB) will compete once again after having won Gold at the Special Olympics 2023 in Berlin. They also aim to qualify for the World Games in Chile and will come to Saarland as the Berlin champions. Another report focuses on head coach and driving force Michael Kürten and Alhassane Kanté, the team’s best player. “The stories of the athletes who are fighting with passion, ambition, and team spirit to qualify for the 2027 World Games show how inclusive sports bring people together and strengthen social participation,” according to RTL Deutschland.
Sky Sport will also accompany the games with comprehensive coverage, including the live broadcast of the opening ceremony on June 15 at 8 p.m. CET on Sky Sport. In addition, Sky is producing the international world feed for the 3x3 basketball competitions and will broadcast the games live from Wednesday through Friday.
Inga Leschek, Chief Content Officer RTL Deutschland, says: “What makes the Special Olympics special is far more than sports – it’s pure passion, team spirit, and lived inclusion. We want to tell and make precisely these stories visible at RTL Deutschland. Together with the media alliance, we are bringing the emotions and extraordinary achievements of the athletes to all our platforms – where they get the attention they deserve.”
