UK / Sports / DE&I

10 April 2024

Mitsubishi Electric celebrates partnership with Special Olympics GB with Unified Football tournament.

Colleagues at the Mitsubishi Electric Europe UK Branch in Hatfield, experienced football at its most inclusive by hosting a 'Unified' tournament with charity partner, Special Olympics Great Britain.

Staged at the University of Hertfordshire, the Unified Football tournament brought together 18 Mitsubishi Electric colleagues with 12 athletes with an intellectual disability from Special Olympics Essex. Here they played alongside each other in mixed teams in a 5-a-side tournament.

"Playing Unified Football does so much in helping our athletes develop on and off the pitch," said Nigel Stuart, Chair of Special Olympics Essex and coach of Team Special Olympics GB's Unified Football team at last year's World Games in Berlin.

"Everyone learns from each other, and new friendships are made when you bring together people with and without an intellectual disability in the same sporting team. It's great that Mitsubishi Electric are so accommodating, and keen to learn more about the experiences of our athletes by hosting this Unified tournament."

Adam Stones, one of the Mitsubishi Electric players said:
"It was a brilliant tournament and such a great experience playing alongside the Special Olympic players. They are a talented bunch – and we look forward to more games together in the future."