The decision has been made: Special Olympics athlete Robert Herberg and Unified Sports® partner Lilly Binder are the "Faces of the Games" of the Special Olympics National Games Berlin 2022.
As ambassadors for the biggest inclusive sports event of the year in Germany, the two will be promoting the National Games in the coming weeks, espe-cially at media events.
"Exciting races, great competitions, new locations, a lot of fun and a lot of joy", says Robert Herberg. According to Robert not only Lilly, but every athlete and spectator can look forward to the event. "You are never the same after the Games. You collect lasting memories, you have a lot of joy in your head and you express it for a long time afterwards."
You collect lasting memories, you have a lot of joy in your head and you express it for a long time afterwards.
The cyclist has already competed in seven Summer National Games since 2006 and the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles and 2019 in Abu Dhabi.
After many titles at national level, the two gold medals at the World Games in Los Angeles are his most outstanding sporting achievements. The 40-year-old works at the LWB Lichtenberg Workshop for Disabled and represents this facility at competitions.
"I applied because I have been doing sports together with people with disabilities for a long time. I want to show that there are no differences and that it's a lot of fun," explains Lilly Binder, who is competing as a track and field athlete in the 100-meter Unified Mixed Relay at the National Games in Berlin.
In Unified competitions, athletes with and without intellectual disabilities participate as a team. "I haven't been to National Games before, so I'm very excited and looking forward to the atmosphere," says the 14-year-old student, who does athletics at SG Schwanebeck in Panketal, Brandenburg.
The anticipation rises
The two are especially looking forward to the Opening Ceremony of the National Games at Alte Försterei on 19 June 2022. During the week of the event, about 4,500 athletes and Unified Partners will compete in 20 sports. Robert Herberg will compete in the cycling races on the Straße des 17. Juni, the athletics competitions with Lilly Binder in the Unified mixed relay will take place in Hanns-Braun-Stadion. The National Games Berlin 2022 are of high importance as they provide qualification possibilities for the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023.
