Co-op Expands Support for Special Olympics GB Through National Summer Games Sponsorship

Co-op Expands Support for Special Olympics GB Through National Summer Games Sponsorship

(IN BRIEF) Co-op and Co-op Media Network have been named official sponsors of the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games 2026, alongside Headline Partner Coca-Cola, supporting the country’s largest inclusive multi-sport event of the year. The Games will bring together more than 1,200 athletes with intellectual disabilities from England, Scotland and Wales, culminating in Birmingham from 27 to 30 August 2026. As part of the sponsorship, Co-op and Co-op Media Network will provide own-brand food and drink for athletes, volunteers and organisers, while building on the award-winning Meals That Matter campaign with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, which has raised more than £200,000 for Special Olympics GB since launching in 2025. The partnership also highlights Co-op colleague and table tennis athlete Alex Rae, while supporting Special Olympics GB’s wider mission to use sport to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities are seen, valued and taken seriously through year-round participation across more than 100 grassroots sports clubs and 27 sports.

(PRESS RELEASE) MANCHESTER, 21-Aug-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Co-op and its retail media business, Co-op Media Network, have been announced as official sponsors of the Special Olympics Great Britain National Summer Games 2026.

The sponsorship, alongside Headline Partner Coca-Cola, reinforces Co-op’s commitment to supporting communities across the United Kingdom.

Special Olympics GB uses sport to help ensure that people with an intellectual, or learning, disability are seen, valued and taken seriously.

Its National Summer Games is the country’s largest inclusive multi-sport event of the year.

The Games will bring together more than 1,200 athletes with an intellectual disability from across England, Scotland and Wales.

The event will culminate in a flagship multi-sport gathering in Birmingham from 27 to 30 August 2026.

As official sponsors, Co-op and Co-op Media Network will provide own-brand food and drink to support athletes, volunteers and organisers during the Games.

The support forms part of a wider commitment to help communities access good food while backing initiatives with meaningful social impact.

One of the athletes competing at the Games is Alex Rae, a Co-op colleague from the retailer’s Rosehill Drive store in Aberdeen.

Alex has been involved with Special Olympics GB since 2009 and is competing in table tennis at this year’s Games.

Alex said Special Olympics GB is a fantastic organisation that has given him opportunities to compete, grow and achieve things he had not thought possible.

He said Co-op’s support is helping more people understand the role of Special Olympics GB and what athletes with an intellectual disability can achieve.

Building on the Meals That Matter campaign

The sponsorship builds on Meals That Matter, Co-op’s returning in-store awareness campaign developed in collaboration with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, known as CCEP.

The award-winning campaign launched in 2025 to celebrate the achievements of Special Olympics GB athletes.

It features Special Olympics GB athletes across a range of customer-facing touchpoints in 1,000 Co-op convenience stores.

Donations to Special Olympics GB are generated through the purchase of a bespoke Co-op food deal that includes Coca-Cola products.

The campaign helps support the charity’s work across Great Britain.

Since its launch in 2025, the Meals That Matter partnership has raised more than £200,000 for Special Olympics GB.

The funding supports the organisation’s work using sport to ensure that people with an intellectual disability are recognised, valued and taken seriously.

Dean Harris, Head of Co-op Media Network, said the Meals That Matter campaign has helped millions of people learn about Special Olympics GB and the achievements of its athletes.

He said it is a privilege for Co-op to further elevate and support the athletes.

Harris added that Co-op Media Network aims to go beyond retail media by working with partners and communities to achieve broader impact.

Laura Baxter MBE, Chief Executive of Special Olympics GB, said it has been fantastic to work with Co-op and Co-op Media Network over the past 18 months through Meals That Matter.

She said the campaign has championed Special Olympics GB athletes in Co-op stores and inspired customers through their achievements.

Baxter said strengthening the relationship through a National Summer Games partnership is an important step forward.

She added that Special Olympics GB is grateful for Co-op’s support and looks forward to bringing the partnership plans to life when the Games culminate in Birmingham.

Supporting athletes beyond the Games

For some athletes, the National Summer Games will provide a pathway toward possible selection for the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Chile in 2027.

Beyond the National Summer Games, Special Olympics GB supports year-round participation through a network of more than 100 grassroots sports clubs across 27 sports.

The organisation helps people with intellectual disabilities access training, competition and community opportunities throughout the year.

Through the sponsorship, Co-op and Co-op Media Network are expanding their support for inclusive sport, community engagement and wider recognition of athletes with intellectual disabilities across Great Britain.

SOURCE: Co-operative Group Limited