Behind many quiet faces, unique minds, and determined hearts, there could be someone with an intellectual impairment who is fighting— every single day — to be seen, heard, and feel included.
Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments, including intellectual impairment, Down syndrome and Autism. This is a vast, beautiful, and diverse community that continues to face misunderstandings, exclusion, and barriers that others often don’t even notice.
But make no mistake: they are dreamers, doers, creators, athletes, professionals, and pioneers. And they deserve the world’s recognition — not just for what they overcome, but for who they are.
Did you know that 178–256 million people worldwide — that’s 2–3% of the global population — live with some form of intellectual impairment.
And yet, awareness about intellectual impairment remains significantly low.
At Virtus, we believe it’s time to change that.
We’re so proud to launch something truly close to our hearts:
Starting this year, Virtus will be the flag bearer of IDPwII and celebrate it every year on 25th July. This special date also marks the anniversary of our first Virtus Global Games in 2004 — a powerful movement that provides an elite competition platform for people with an intellectual impairment.
Virtus have been using the power of sport — and the inspiring stories of our athletes — to break down barriers, change perceptions, and create an inclusive world for people with an intellectual impairment. But this day will go beyond sport.
It’s about building a global movement of belonging, equality, and joy for all people with intellectual impairment.
Join us in this global celebration
Celebrate locally
Host or support a local awareness activity — a community sport day, athlete talk, school engagement, or online event. This could be as small as a social post or as large as a public exhibition.
Share amazing stories of people with an intellectual impairment
Use local language and imagery to tell the stories of athletes in your country or region. Share their words, videos, and journeys with the campaign hashtags.
