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Inclusive sports festival in Potsdam: stars and exciting competitions await you!
On June 30, 2025, an inclusive family festival with competitions, including canoeing and swimming, took place in the Luftschiffhafen Potsdam sports park.
Inclusive sports festival in Potsdam: stars and exciting competitions await you!
A colorful family celebration and exciting competitions were on the program on Sunday in the Luftschiffhafen sports park. Athletes from the Olympic, Paralympic and Special Olympics communities impressively demonstrated how inclusion is practiced in sport. This great day was led by SC Potsdam, which made a significant contribution to holding the athletics competitions for the benefit of everyone involved SC Potsdam reports.
The focus was on sports such as canoeing, swimming, athletics and sitting volleyball. A special highlight was the celebrity shot put, which was accompanied by former Olympic champion Katarina Witt. SC Potsdam was also present here: Rico Freimuth secured first place among the men with a distance of 18.49 meters, while Kathleen Friedrich won the women's ranking with 8.60 meters. Other prominent participants were Kevin Kuske, Conrad Schmid, Marco Huck and Ludwig Rötzscher.
Community and sportsmanship
The event not only offered athleticism, but also a sign of solidarity. The SCP sprinters Jasmin Schilling, Blanda Malou Kosubeck, Cäcilia Weimann and Finja Schnieder showed how important exchange is in sport. In addition, national player Marlies Dreblow and the national sitting volleyball team competed against each other in an exciting match. Such shared experiences promote inclusion and exchange, whatever anchored in the goals of the Special Olympics is.
As became clear at the event, participation and access to competitions differ between the Special Olympics and the Paralympics. While the Paralympics, which will take place in Paris from August 28th to September 8th, 2025, primarily offer a platform for athletes with physical impairments, the Special Olympics have a broader philosophy of inclusion: people with mental and physical impairments are welcome here, without any restrictions on sporting performance.
Looking for improvements
Despite all the positive developments, there is still work to be done. A current study by Aktion Mensch shows that Germany is falling short of expectations when it comes to implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-BRK). Many athletes are critical of the opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sport and other areas, which indicates a significant need for action. The demand is to normalize inclusion in all areas of life and to break down barriers. Action Human emphasized that popular sport in particular plays an important role in inclusion and that changes are also necessary at a societal level.
This week at the Luftschiffhafen Sports Park was a wonderful example of how sport can build connecting bridges. Successful events not only promote togetherness, they also offer a platform for change and inclusion, which must be expanded further in the future.