The Red Ball: A Symbol of Inclusion
You may have seen a red ball being kicked around a soccer field, tossed on a basketball court or thrown on a football field. The look of it is bold-it’s different and it always catches your eye. But what does the ball mean to the Special Olympics movement?
Our Special Olympics red ball is the symbol of inclusion and acceptance; a visual thread throughout all our Play Unified marketing campaign. To Play Unified means for people with all different abilities to play together on the field and have equal opportunities.
When our athletes see the red ball, they know that they have arrived at a Play Unified event where they can play at the same level as those around them. At these events, their opportunities for inclusion are endless. Though this is the initial goal of the Play Unified campaign, this idea of inclusion extends to all areas of life: never leaving anyone out of the playing field in any capacity.
Our Play Unified programs are seen in schools and communities around the globe. And in many programs, Play Unified has been the first step for bullying-prevention and acceptance.
So, yes, our red ball is a simple symbol to some, but to our movement, it means something greater. It means that beginning steps to a more inclusive world can start with sport, evening out the playing field and above all having respect and gratitude toward one another.
The red ball design has been adapted to different sports balls, varying from basketball, volleyball, American football, soccer, golf, baseball and even beach balls! All balls can be purchased through our online store at
http://www.playunifiedstore.com
