Ahead of the 2019 World Winter Games in Austria, Special Olympics Uganda held a one day training with the Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA), equipping them with detailed knowledge on how to report from a more informed point of view.
According to Genevieve Bamwidhukire, Special Olympics Uganda national director, many media outlets still confuse Special Olympics with Paralympics, as was evidenced in coverage of the 2015 World Summer Games in Los Angeles.
“Today we realized that Special Olympics and Paralympics are totally different, and many people are unaware about the activities within Special Olympics,” says Aliguma Ritah, USPA vice president. “It is important and a very good cause to support such kinds of special sports disciplines.”
The MOU signed with USPA includes both fundraising and media advocacy for Special Olympics internationally and in Uganda. USPA is affiliated to AIPS, the international sports press body. A video spot of the training was screened on NBS TV Uganda.