Unified Football World Cup: "A budget of just over €3m" (J. Collette, Special Olympics)

"We have a budget of just over €3m, funded one third by public grants and support, one third by sponsorship and patronage, and one third through the mobilisation of our own funds and contributions from Special Olympics International," said Julien Collette, CEO of Special Olympics France, to News Tank on 19/02/2026.

The former CEO of GIP France 2023 (the organising body of the Rugby World Cup 2023) was speaking at Paris City Hall during the official presentation of the Unified Football World Cup, which will take place at the Stade Charléty (Paris, 13^th arrondissement) from 05 to 11/07/2026. The third edition of the competition, organised by Special Olympics France, will bring together 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams composed of "athletes with and without intellectual disabilities". France will be the only nation to field a team in both tournaments.

"Deloitte (audit) was the very first partner to join us, at the beginning of summer 2025. French partners followed, including Groupe Saur (water management) and Sanofi (biopharmaceutical), one of our health partners. Then major international…