Special Olympics Great Britain athletes, Niall Guite and Marcus Mason Williams recently took part in an international enterprise challenge with athletes from across the world in Salt Lake City, USA.
Called the Athlete Design Co_Lab, the project followed a similar model to Special Olympics GB’s Unified Business programme with Coca-Cola Euorpacific Partners.
Niall who is a member of Special Olympics Sheffield, runs the Art with a Special Goal social enterprise with Special Olympics GB. Alongside Marcus of Special Olympics West Mids Ski Group, who founded CoolArt2021, they joined professional designers, influencers, celebrities, and passionate partners to co-design a brand-new line of merchandise that embodies the spirit of Special Olympics.
Niall and Marcus helped create pieces that reflect their personal journeys their contributions will soon be seen in an exclusive global merchandise collection – more details to come later this year.
The Athlete Design Co_Lab is part of a wider movement to amplify the voices of Special Olympics athletes on the world stage — not just in sport, but across culture, business, and media.
Amy Wise, Senior Vice President of global marketing for Special Olympics International, said the so-called Athlete Design Co. Lab was the first of what will be many to be hosted in cities around the world.
“This is absolutely about showing our athletes who they are telling their stories through, through their lens,” Wise explained. “We believe they have the greatest stories to tell. They have talents to offer the world.”