Special Olympics Bhutan Visits Drugyel Primary School Under Unified Champion Schools Initiative
Paro, Bhutan — In a meaningful step towards promoting inclusion through sports, the Special Olympics Bhutan team visited Drugyel Primary School today as part of the Unified Champion Schools (UCS) initiative. The visit focused on distributing sports equipment to encourage inclusive sports activities and conducting an awareness session on the vision, programs, and upcoming events of Special Olympics.
The UCS initiative is a global movement designed to bring students with and without intellectual disabilities together, using sports as a powerful tool to foster friendship, understanding, and equal participation. As one of the pilot schools under this initiative, Drugyel Primary School is playing a pioneering role in showing how education and sports can work hand in hand to build inclusive communities.
During the awareness session, the Special Olympics Bhutan team highlighted how sports are not just about competition, but about teamwork, respect, and acceptance. Teachers and students learned about the Unified Partner concept—where students with and without intellectual disabilities play together as teammates. This model helps to break down barriers, nurture empathy, and make inclusion a lived experience rather than just an idea.
The school warmly welcomed the initiative, noting that it creates opportunities for all children to discover their abilities, support one another, and grow in confidence. Teachers also shared how the program aligns with the school’s broader goals of holistic development, helping every child feel valued and included in school activities.
Speaking on the occasion, the Special Olympics Bhutan team emphasized that this initiative is just the beginning: “Through Unified Champion Schools, we hope to see a generation of young people who understand the power of inclusion—not only in sports but in every aspect of life.”
As the pilot program continues, Drugyel Primary School stands as an inspiring example of how schools can become champions of inclusion, ensuring no child is left behind and every child has a chance to play, learn, and thrive.
