Antwerp, September 18, 2014.

PRESS INVITATION Closing ceremony: 2014 Special Olympics European Summer Games. Because a great performance deserves a great audience: Her Royal Highness Prince Astrid will attend the closing ceremony on

September 20.

After a week of great sporting action, fun, energy and joy on and off the sports field the 2014 Special Olympics European Sumer Games will come to a close this Saturday September 20 with a high energy Closing Ceremony. The end of the “Games of the Heart” will be celebrated in the company of Her Highness Princess Astrid and her husband Prince Lorenz and 2,000 athletes, 1,000 coaches, families, volunteers and spectators.

Celebrities Sandra Kim, Axel Hirsoux, Natalia, Kate Ryan and Stijn Meuris will take to the stage to perform and add lots of energy to the Closing Ceremony. Just ahead of declaring the Games ‘Closed’ Princess Astrid will meet with athletes and their families. The concert will be a large “Thank You” party for the volunteers, supporters and families who have travelled far and wide to support the Games and of course it will celebrate the athletes who have inspired all of us with their skill and passion this week. “We will also use the opportunity to thank the media in Belgium and internationally for their extensive coverage and support of the 2014 Special Olympics European Summer Games” says Mark Vanlombeek, spokesperson for the Games.

You are invited to share this last exceptional moment with the Special Olympics athletes. Please confirm your attendance as soon as possible to Amelie Putmans via [email protected] or via tel. number 0477 20 09 70.

And because “A great performance deserves a great audience” we kindly invite all persons who have no seats booked yet to join us. You can order tickets on-line via www.so2014.com or at the venue priced 18 euros (subject to availability).

When: Saturday Sept. 20 2014

Where: Sportpaleis d’Anvers Schijnpoortweg 119, 2170 Antwerpen [Please use parking A, B,C, D or E– Grenslandhallen parking – 3€]

Program:

14.15 PM Welcome to media and briefing by Palace delegation – access with press card only

14.30 PM Welcome to media not covering Royal Guests.

14.45 PM Arrival of the Royal Highnesses Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz

15.00PM Closing Ceremony commences

17.20 PM End of the Ceremony

Practical information for the press:

Rushes of the Ceremony will be available after the show - links for downloads will be communicated in a press release.

During the ceremony, it will be possible to film and take pictures. Backstage access will not be authorized. and gangway will be accessible but access flow cannot be restricted and security rules must be adhered to.

Concerning the broadcast of video images in the scope of a round up report of the 2014 Special Olympics European

Summer Games, it is not allowed to broadcast the complete ceremony and the musical performances of the artists.

About the 2014 Special Olympics European Summer Games

In 1968, Special Olympics was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister to President John F Kennedy. Today this Movement serves 4.3 million athletes with intellectual disabilities in 170 countries and holds more than 70.000 competitions offering 33 Olympic sports annually. Every four years the World Summer and Winter Games are staged. This year, the 2014 Special Olympics European Summer Games take place in Antwerp from September 9 until September 20. During this period Belgium will welcome 2000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 58 countries in the Europe Eurasia region including 1,000 coaches and more than

6,000 volunteers. During six days of competition, athletes will compete in 10 sports at five locations across Antwerp. Special Olympics Belgium has been active in Belgium since 1979 and organizes National Games annually. The 'Games of the Heart' aims to create a legacy in Belgium of inclusion and acceptance of people with an intellectual disability.

For additional information: www.so2014.com twitter.com/SOBelgium www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympics.be

For all requests with regard to interview requests or accreditations, please contact: (do not publish)

Wavemakers PR & Communications

Amélie Putmans [email protected] +32 (0)477 20 09 70

Elke De Mayer [email protected] +32 (0)485 75 28 66