Special Olympics USA Games

Sustainability Strategy and Action Plans, Impact Report, Playbook and Toolkit

The Organizing Committee for the Special Olympics USA Games saw a major opportunity for the USA Games to showcase community benefit initiatives, skill-building and work opportunities for people with Intellectual Disabilities, and public education on social inclusion and environmental stewardship.

Reeve, in partnership with David Muller, worked closely with the Organizing Committee to develop

a comprehensive sustainability program—the first of its kind in the Special Olympics movement. Reeve facilitated a strategic planning exercise to produce the Sustainability Strategy for the games and six Action Plans to activate on goals of inclusion, local economic development and environmental stewardship.  With coaching from Reeve, the Organizing Committee successfully promoted sustainable procurement as a key strategy to deliver on social and environmental impact.

By setting a new standard for sustainability within the Special Olympics USA Games, Reeve, Muller and the team at Special Olympics were able to leave a lasting positive legacy in USA. Although promoting balance and inclusion is at the core of Special Olympics’ sustainability initiatives, they that future Games will meet this standard and will re-define limits with every opportunity. The legacy resources developed by the team share achievements and lessons learned to inspire and assist future organizers, operators, sponsors, and other stakeholders of large sporting events.