Sixteen countries took part in the Special Olympics basketball tournament ©Special Olympics

Sixteen countries took part in a Special Olympics basketball tournament which featured players both with and without intellectual disabilities. 

The event in Tuscany in Italy welcomed the host nation as well as Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Spain.

"Unified" rules meant that the teams featured an equal mix of players who have impairments and those who do not.

Around 240 players took part with the event one of the biggest Special Olympics gatherings in Europe this year.

The three-day event was seen as an important way of getting back to action after the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event featured players both with and without intellectual disabilities ©Special Olympics
The event featured players both with and without intellectual disabilities ©Special Olympics

Funding for the tournament came from the European Union (EU).

"Thanks to the great initiative of everyone involved in organising this unified tournament and the support of the European Union, this project is re-engaging youth players with and without disabilities active in 16 EU countries," said Miroslaw Krogulec, a sports director for Special Olympics Europe Eurasia.   

Twenty-four teams took part in all.