25 July: A Global Day to shine a light on people with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
On 25 July, the world marks the second edition of World Intellectual Disability Day. Launched by Virtus, the International Federation for Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment, this global awareness day aims to change perceptions of neurodevelopmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, with or without associated conditions, as well as autism spectrum disorders.
More than just another awareness campaign, this initiative highlights a simple truth: visibility is essential to inclusion.
For the Jeux 2030 Inclusifs campaign, this message perfectly reflects the mission we have been pursuing together from the very beginning.
« This is Me – This is Us »: the 2026 theme
For its second edition, Virtus has chosen a powerful theme: « This is Me – This is Us. »
Through this campaign, people with an intellectual disability or another neurodevelopmental disability are encouraged to tell their own stories, in their own words, showing the world who they truly are beyond labels and stereotypes.
« This is Me » celebrates the individual – their personality, strengths, dreams, achievements and aspirations.
« This is Us » highlights the power of belonging, celebrating families, friends, coaches, clubs, volunteers and everyone who helps create environments where people with intellectual disabilities can thrive.
This message strongly reflects the values of the Jeux 2030 Inclusifs campaign: recognising every athlete for who they are, rather than defining them by their disability.
Why 25 July?
The date is far from symbolic.
On 25 July 2004, 22 years ago, Virtus launched the very first Global Games in Bollnäs, Sweden. Since then, the Global Games have become the world’s leading international sporting event for athletes with an intellectual disability.
By establishing World Intellectual Disability Day on 25 July, Virtus honours this historic milestone while celebrating the progress made towards greater recognition, inclusion and opportunity.
Learn more about World Intellectual Disability Day on the Virtus website.
Changing perceptions of disabilities that remain too often misunderstood
Neurodevelopmental disabilities affect an estimated 200 million people worldwide, representing around 2–3% of the global population. Yet they remain widely misunderstood and are still surrounded by stereotypes and misconceptions.
In sport, athletes with an intellectual disability, including those with additional conditions such as Down syndrome, as well as athletes on the autism spectrum, demonstrate every year their talent, determination and ability to perform at the highest level.
Despite this, their achievements receive very little media attention.
Their lack of visibility does not reflect either their sporting excellence or their commitment.
Sport as a powerful driver of inclusion
For more than forty years, Virtus has been creating opportunities for athletes with an intellectual disability and other eligible neurodevelopmental disabilities to compete at the highest international level.
From the Virtus Global Games to the Virtus European Summer Games, hundreds of athletes proudly represent their countries every year across a wide range of sports.
These competitions prove that disability is never a barrier to performance, ambition or sporting excellence.
Join the global movement
To mark World Intellectual Disability Day, Virtus is inviting everyone to take part in a worldwide social media challenge.
Getting involved is simple:
- Share a short video on 25 July, telling your story or explaining what you would like the world to know about you.
- Use the official digital resources provided by Virtus, including video frames, stickers and communication materials.
- Tag @Virtus.sport and your national Virtus member organisation to become part of this global celebration.
The campaign aims to create a worldwide collection of personal stories, reminding us that behind every disability is a unique individual with dreams, ambitions and experiences worth sharing.
A message that echoes the Jeux 2030 Inclusifs campaign
Our campaign focuses on the French Alps 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, but our commitment goes far beyond winter sports.
We advocate for greater recognition of all athletes with intellectual disabilities, whatever their sport, their background or their disability.
World Intellectual Disability Day reminds us that people with an intellectual disability or autism deserve the same visibility, recognition and opportunities as every other athlete.
Because inclusion should never be limited by the sport being practised.
Making people visible to build a more inclusive society
This second edition of World Intellectual Disability Day is a call for everyone to take action.
Sharing athletes’ stories, discovering adapted sport, supporting inclusive initiatives or simply talking about this global day all help change perceptions.
Through the Jeux 2030 Inclusifs campaign, we continue to pursue the same ambition: ensuring that athletes with intellectual disabilities and other neurodevelopmental disabilities are no longer overlooked in elite sport.
Because being seen is the first step towards being truly recognised.