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Perth nominated as preferred Australian city to bid for Special Olympics World Games

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Ben SmithThe West Australian
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Perth has been selected as Australia's preferred city to bid for the 2027 Special Olympics World Games.
Camera IconPerth has been selected as Australia's preferred city to bid for the 2027 Special Olympics World Games. Credit: Supplied

Perth may have missed out on the 2026 Commonwealth Games, but WA remains in the running to host a major international sporting games in the next five years.

Perth has been selected as the preferred Australian host city in a bid to entice the 2027 Special Olympics World Games to the southern hemisphere for the first time in history.

The bid, which will officially be lodged by Special Olympics Australia in July, has already drawn letters of support from Governor Kim Beazley, Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall and Telethon Kids Institute executive director Jonathan Carapetis.

The World Games is twice the size of the Paralympics, and could attract approximately 8000 athletes from 170 nations, almost 20,000 overseas visitors and 500,000 spectators.

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Held every four years, previous host cities have included Los Angeles, Dublin, Shanghai and Abu Dhabi, with Berlin set to host the 2023 event.

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In a video announcing the bid, Special Olympics chairman Timothy Shriver urged Premier Mark McGowan and the Perth community to back the bid to the hilt.

“All of you in Australia know the power of this movement. You know, from your own athletes, the urgency of inclusion, the urgency of creating a culture of welcome for people with intellectual and developmental challenges from the cradle to the grave,” he said.

Perth has been selected as Australia's preferred city to bid for the 2027 Special Olympics World Games.
Camera IconPerth has been selected as Australia's preferred city to bid for the 2027 Special Olympics World Games. Credit: Supplied

“I’ve been lucky enough to attend Special Olympics World Summer Games for most of my life.

“I promise that they will change your life.

“There is nothing like the athlete who gives her or his all to the race and regardless of all the odds, perseveres in the face of everything to do his or her best and stand at the finish line and on the metal stand, preparing to be decorated with gold or silver or bronze or participation; brave regardless of the outcome.”

Bid committee chair Tanya Brown said the World Games was much more than a sporting event.

Special Olympics Torch Relay...Mary Mills Photos...
World games athlete Jaydan Williams and Sergeant Brad Robinson with the launch of the Law Enforcement Torch Run...
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Camera IconThe Special Olympics Torch Relay is a big part of the Games. Credit: MaryMills/Kalgoorlie Miner

“It is a whole-of-community, global event that offers competition sports as well as a range of off-field activities such as research and policy symposia, leadership gatherings, the Law Enforcement Torch Run and health screenings,” she said.

“It is fitting for such a sport loving nation that, through the catalyst of sport, we can achieve systemic change for our nation and change views, change lives, change our nation and change the world.”

Featuring more than 30 Olympic-type sports, Special Olympics World Games athletes must have an intellectual disability to compete and groups athletes based on scores and age for fair competition against others of similar ability.

It is expected the World Games would return more than $200 million in economic benefits, and has the potential to create a long-lasting legacy across the domains of inclusion, health, education, employment and justice.

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