Toyota (GB) is strengthening its support for the Special Olympics Great Britain charity by becoming an Official Sponsor of the 2026 National Summer Games. The aim of this expansion of our longstanding relationship is to create an athlete-first experience for more than 1,200 people with intellectual disabilities, and to reinforce our commitment to removing barriers to participation through sport.
Toyota has been the charity’s official mobility partner since 2023, and enjoyed a wider relationship with Special Olympics internationally since 2017. Now as an official partner of the first National Summer Games in nine years, Toyota will support the nation’s biggest inclusive sporting event of 2026.
Our support will include the provision of behind-the-scenes vehicles to help keep the Games moving during the multi-sport event in Birmingham, from 27-30 August. We are also funding dedicated sensory recovery rooms that will provide calm, welcoming spaces where athletes and members of the Games family can take time away from the busy competition environment whenever they need it.
Volunteers from Toyota (GB) will take part to help with the smooth running of the events. Toyota will also use the Games to shine a spotlight on the Toyota Coaching Fund, which has enabled more than 160 members of the Special Olympics GB family gain recognised coaching qualifications.
How long has Toyota worked with Special Olympics?
Toyota has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the Special Olympics movement, serving as a global and regional partner since 2017 and 2020 respectively. On a national scale, the official partnership with Toyota (GB) was agreed in 2023 and since then has made a significant impact in helping transform the lives of people with learning disabilities.
At the end of 2024, the Toyota Coaching Fund was created to help Special Olympics GB athletes and volunteers increase their skills and develop coaching credentials, completing qualifications across Special Olympics GB’s 27 competition sports. As of the end of July 2025, a total of 74 applications from across the country have been received for the fund. This is well on track to achieve a target of supporting 100 coaches.
Toyota (GB) has supported career development initiatives for Special Olympics GB athletes, including a bespoke employability programme for members of its Athlete Leadership Team. It also secured the return of the National Indoor Athletics Competition in London last year, through dedicated event funding.
In 2023, Toyota (GB) spearheaded a national awareness campaign for Special Olympics GB during the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin. The campaign featured creative Team Special Olympics GB branding across prominent outdoor media sites, via fellow partner Ocean Outdoor, as well as a Fan Park at Westfield London.
Laura Baxter MBE, chief executive of Special Olympics GB, said: “Toyota is an incredibly valued partner of Special Olympics GB, sharing our belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve their potential through sport. Its support of the National Summer Games extends far beyond sponsorship. From investing in coaches to creating welcoming, inclusive environments at our National Summer Games, Toyota is helping us create a Games that puts athletes first. Together, we’re creating opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to be seen, valued and taken seriously.”
Luigi Ksawery Luca’, Toyota (GB) president and managing director added: “We believe in the power of sports to encourage inclusivity, which is why we are continuing our support for Special Olympics Great Britain. The National Summer Games will provide the platform to motivate and inspire involvement for the future; we want to help make this happen. Inclusivity is a core principle throughout Toyota, which is why we remain committed to sport for all with nobody left behind.”
About Special Olympics GB
- Special Olympics Great Britain, set up in 1978, is a non-profit charity which provides year-round sports coaching and athletic competition in summer and winter sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities
- Special Olympics GB currently has 98 accredited programmes in England, Scotland and Wales and provides coaching and competition opportunities in 27 sports. These programmes are run by over 3,800 volunteers who support more than 6,600 athletes with intellectual disabilities to take part
- Special Olympics GB is more than just an opportunity to take part in sport – it transforms lives. It provides opportunities to increase confidence, realise potential, develop physical fitness and mental well-being, demonstrate courage and experience new friendships. And above all for both athletes and their families – to have some FUN
- The work of Special Olympics GB is currently funded by individuals, trust and corporate donations, with financial support being crucial to enable the charity to continue its work
- In addition to learning more about the charity on its website, you can engage with Special Olympics GB on social media via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn
Wonderful. More corporate organisations should be doing this. Well done Toyota!