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Inclusion in sport: Human football tournament unites generations in Haldensleben!
On October 1, 2025, an inclusive human football tournament will take place in Haldensleben to promote togetherness and inclusion.
Inclusion in sport: Human football tournament unites generations in Haldensleben!
On October 1, 2025, the inclusive human football tournament took place in the Ohrelandhalle in Haldensleben under the motto “Mix Kicker – Fun Included”. The event, which was initiated by the Börde/Helmstedt Inclusion in Sport Working Group, aimed to bring people with and without disabilities together. Five mixed teams, consisting of employees and clients of the participating institutions, competed against each other in ten exciting games of six minutes each. The focus was on shared experiences, exchanges and fun, not on sporting competition, as Magdeburg klickt reports.
The event was supported by various institutions, including the Börde district and the city of Haldensleben. Dr. Marcus Waselewski, councilor for the Börde district, emphasized the importance of meeting spaces that make it possible to break down prejudices and overcome barriers. Lebenshilfe Ostfalen catered for the participants and guests by providing delicious, home-baked cakes and drinks.
Review of the Special Olympics
A particularly important aspect of the event was the connection to the Special Olympics World Games 2023, which took place in Berlin and Brandenburg. These games were the largest sporting event for people with intellectual disabilities and attracted around 6,500 athletes and more than 50,000 spectators. Sportschau reports that the Special Olympics not only celebrated sporting success, but also a change in the perception of people with disabilities caused.
The chefs who supported the event benefited from the remaining funds from the Special Olympics Host Town Project, in which the Börde district acted as the host municipality. This project has helped to spread the idea of inclusion across the population. Over 200 municipalities took part in this program, which led to improved attitudes among the population towards people with intellectual disabilities.
Positive feedback and challenges
In the last two years, the “Sport & Inclusion” initiative has seen the number of members in the network double. However, Florian König from Special Olympics Germany calls for long-term securing of resources for inclusive sports offerings. While there is progress, the challenge remains to find enough trainers to practice inclusion. Surveys in the host towns indicate that organized sport is becoming increasingly important for people with intellectual disabilities, but only around 8% of the 320,000 affected people are active.
When honoring the winners of the human football tournament, District Administrator Gerhard Radeck von Helmstedt presented the certificates, which were a nice souvenir of this special day for the participants. The event was not just a sporting event, but a step towards better coexistence and a more inclusive society.