Cycling, horseback riding, and golf – the district town of St. Wendel will be the venue for several competitions during the Special Olympics National Games 2026 from June 15 to 20. A varied supporting program is also intended to set a visible sign for inclusion, encounters, and social cohesion.
Mayor Peter Klär emphasizes the special significance of the major event for the city: "The Special Olympics National Games 2026 have a very special meaning for us in St. Wendel. It is a highly regarded major event that once again makes the sports city of St. Wendel widely visible. For me, however, it is not just about sport. We want to show that inclusion is already lived in St. Wendel and that we can set a good example of how sport opens doors and brings people together."
In St. Wendel, international athletes compete in disciplines such as show jumping and dressage, vaulting, golf, and cycling events like time trials and road races. The competitions take place at Gestüt Welvert, in Wendelinus Golf Park, and on a road course around Wendelinus Park. The district town aims to live up to its reputation as a strong sports city and to present itself as a warm host to the many national and international participants and visitors.
Wendelinuspark as a Center of Encounter
A central point of contact for athletes, helpers, and guests will be Wendelinuspark. It houses not only the sports facilities but also the inclusive multi-generation plaza, which underscores the concept of lived inclusion in St. Wendel. “Wendelinuspark thus serves both as a sporting center and a place of meeting and exchange within the framework of the games,” explains the mayor.
City festival as the destination of the torch run
Already on Friday, June 12, the Special Olympics are integrated into the St. Wendel city festival. A highlight of the evening is the arrival of the torchbearers on the main stage at Schlossplatz around 6 p.m. The evening's opening is then provided by the Samba group of Lebenshilfe St. Wendel as well as the comedian and inclusion ambassador Kai Bosch, before Mayor Peter Klär will officially open the city festival with the traditional tapping of the keg. "Our city festival traditionally attracts many thousands of visitors who come together in St. Wendel to celebrate. I cannot imagine a better setting to embed and make visible an event like this in the heart of society," explains the mayor. After the festive opening, the band "Herr Marie" will continue to set the mood from 7 p.m. with their own songs and their special connection to Lebenshilfe and people with disabilities.
Inclusion festival on Sunday
The second highlight of the supporting program takes place on Sunday, June 14, with an inclusion festival organized by the district town of St. Wendel in cooperation with Lebenshilfe St. Wendel. From 4 to 10 p.m., visitors can look forward to a varied program with music, socializing, and entertainment. The focus will be on performances by "Alina & Tim with Usner unplugged" as well as "Guildo Horn und die Orthopädischen Strümpfe." Additionally, from 7 p.m., the World Cup match Germany vs. Curaçao will be shown on the big screen in a public viewing event.
Accelerating Positive Impulses
For Mayor Peter Klär, the impact of the games extends far beyond the sporting context: "I see great opportunities for the games to sustainably raise awareness of the needs of people with disabilities." The city has already implemented important accessibility measures, including in Brühl and Schorlemerstraße, as well as the recently opened fully accessible new building of the Winterbach community center. Further projects, such as the accessible redesign of Parkstraße, are already planned. Klär particularly emphasizes the close cooperation with Lebenshilfe St. Wendel: "They contribute greatly to ensuring that people with and without disabilities live together naturally in everyday life. The games can further accelerate this process and act like a catalyst."
"Being there is St. Wendel!"
Under the motto "Being there is St. Wendel!", the district town has set itself the goal of sparking interest in the Special Olympics among as many people as possible. The experience as a Host Town of the Special Olympics World Summer Games in 2023, when a delegation from Zimbabwe was hosted in St. Wendel, has already shown the mayor impressively how much openness, joy, and enthusiasm such encounters can generate. "That is why it is important to me to actively inspire the people of St. Wendel with the idea of the Special Olympics," emphasizes Klär.
