- Lake Kournas will host the European Special Olympics Kayaking Games from October 29 to November 2.
- 70 athletes from 10 European countries, with and without intellectual disabilities, will compete.
- It is the first time Special Olympics Europe Eurasia has awarded Greece the European kayaking event.
- The Opening Ceremony will take place in Georgioupolis on October 30, with a torch relay and the lighting of the Games cauldron.
Lake Kournas Gets a European Sporting Spotlight
The 2026 European Special Olympics Kayaking Games will take place at Lake Kournas, in Chania, from October 29 to November 2, bringing together 70 athletes from 10 European countries.
The athletes include competitors with and without intellectual disabilities, known as Unified Partners, who will compete together in individual, team, and mixed events.
It is also a first for Greece. Special Olympics Europe Eurasia has awarded Special Olympics Hellas the first opportunity to organize a European kayaking event.
Sport, Inclusion, and a Very Pretty Lake
The Games are built around the principles of inclusion, volunteering, solidarity and equal participation in sport.
Lake Kournas was chosen partly because it is already a proven venue for Special Olympics kayaking. Special Olympics Hellas has held national kayaking competitions there successfully for the past six years.
That experience gives the organizers a proven venue while putting one of Crete’s most distinctive natural landscapes in front of athletes and visitors from across Europe.
Opening Ceremony in Georgioupolis
The official Opening Ceremony will take place on Friday, October 30, at 6 pm, along the seafront in Georgioupolis.
An athlete-led torch relay will culminate in the lighting of the Games cauldron.
The ceremony will be presented by journalists Jenny Melita and Spyros Margaritis.
Athletes Come to Crete Without the Bill
The athletes will not pay to participate.
Special Olympics Hellas will provide accommodation, food, and transportation for all participating delegations, relying heavily on sponsor and volunteer support.
The Games are being organized with the participation of the Region of Crete, Chania Regional Unit, Municipality of Apokoronas, Hellenic Canoe Kayak SUP & Surfing Federation, and Chania Nautical Club.
The event offers Crete more than another sporting tournament.
For several days, Lake Kournas and Georgioupolis will become meeting points for athletes, coaches, volunteers and supporters from across Europe, while showcasing a part of Chania that many visitors associate with scenery and swimming rather than international competition.
