Barcelona confirmed as third host of Special Olympics events within 2026 EA Open Water Swimming programme

Barcelona, which piloted the inclusion of Special Olympics competition in the fourth leg of last season’s European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Cup, will enable a similar joint initiative when it stages the concluding leg of his year’s series on October 3.

European Aquatics can confirm that the Catalan capital will offer the third competitive open water swimming opportunity for athletes with disabilities.

This follows the announcement that similar events will be held within the opening leg of the EA OWS Cup at Protaras in Cyprus on April 18 and at the EA Junior Open Water Swimming Championships 2026 in Sukoro, Hungary from July 23 to 26.

Speaking of the Special Olympics 800m competition involving nine countries that took place in Barcelona last September, Matteo Secchi,  sport manager of Special Olympics Europe and Eurasia (SOEE), told European Aquatics:

“The open water event in Barcelona was more than just a competition.

“It was a powerful testament of our shared commitment to creating new opportunities for athletes with and without intellectual disabilities in water disciplines. 

“Witnessing almost 30 swimmers take to the water alongside European Aquatics’ best set a tremendous first step for what we want to achieve.
“We are incredibly proud to be making waves together, and this event signals a bright future where aquatics is truly accessible to all.”

These three Special Olympics competitive opportunities are in line with shared objectives outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between European Aquatics and Special Olympics Europe Eurasia at last July’s EA Junior Swimming Championships in Samorin, which focus on development, events, partnerships and communication through to 2028.

EA President Antonio Silva commented:

“Our Memorandum of Understanding sets out a clear pathway for cooperation in development and events, and these competitions demonstrate how we are translating that vision into action.

“We are committed to ensuring that aquatics remains accessible and inclusive, and we look forward to strengthening this collaboration in the years ahead.

” I would  like also to thank President of Club Natation Julian Alvarez and General Secretary Santi Fernandez for the long-term commitment of this co-operation until 2028.”

Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics

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