Why a professor from the University of Kassel is taking part in the Special Olympics

Prof. Hagemann, how did you come to participate in the Special Olympics 2023?

Hagemann: I joined the "Eiderbaskets" team through a former fellow student because he managed this basketball team. We've been playing together as a unified team for 12 years now. So we already have a lot of experience, are well attuned to each other and know our strengths and weaknesses.

What is a "unified partner"? What is a "unified team"?

Hagemann: At the Special Olympics, participants without intellectual disabilities are called "partners" and those with disabilities are called "athletes". A "unified team" is therefore a mixed team in which both "partners" without and "athletes" with disabilities play together. Teams that consist exclusively of people with intellectual disabilities are called "traditional teams" in the Special Olympics.

In the unified teams, the inclusive idea is taken a step further and put into practice: sporting experiences are shared not only with one another, but also with each other. It's a special experience and a lot of fun. It requires a lot of communication and agreement within the team. It works really well when everyone pulls together.

Are there any special or additional rules for basketball at the Special Olympics?

Hagemann: The most important rule is that there is a penalty if partner players dominate too much. "Unified competition" means that there is always at least one person without a disability on the court or in the game. However, the "partners" are never outnumbered and the division is fixed in the rules.

However, such penalties rarely occur. The partners are aware that they are not allowed to dominate. It's about involving everyone. The 3x3 format in which we compete is really great for inclusion, as you are the only partner on the court - for example, it's not possible to pass to each other with another partner and the two athletes can always take turns. Besides, as a handball player, I can't really show off in basketball anyway! (laughs)

Incidentally, this also plays a role in qualifying. It's not just the team's victories that count here: there is an additional assessment of how well the team implements the unified concept, for example whether you sit and eat together, do things together or how the team communicates.

What is the atmosphere like on site? What significance does this event have for the participants?

Hagemann: The atmosphere is really amazing. The encounters with the other teams were very exciting. And the joint opening ceremony was of course an absolute goosebump moment for the athletes and all participants. Everyone danced, celebrated, sang and was in such a good mood. You have to imagine it: 50,000 spectators in the Olympic stadium in Berlin and everyone standing up for the German team's entry - it was very emotional.

What can you take away from this experience for your research and work at the University of Kassel?

Hagemann: Next year, a new degree course is to be introduced at the University of Kassel: Special Needs Education (L5). I'm getting impressions of what we should pay attention to in the concept for the teaching subject of sport and how we can design the training particularly well here. My participation in the Special Olympics and my membership of the "Eiderbaskets" definitely gives me a better understanding of special needs.

It is also interesting for me to see that the athletes have a very keen sense of justice and fair play. In these competitions - unlike in our typical sporting socialization - it's not always just about winning. There are no tactical fouls here, for example, as that would be an unfair advantage - and the athletes don't want that. So the partners can also learn a lot from the athletes here.

Do you also focus your research on people with (mental) disabilities? Is that something you are planning for the future?

Hagemann: The huge potential of exercise is really exciting. Physical activity is so important for self-efficacy and has so many positive effects - physically and motorically, but also emotionally and socially. There is definitely a need for more projects and research in this area. We already have a cooperation with task - the Transfer and Application Center for Sport in Kassel - with the sports department and provide scientific support for regional projects, for example. It would be nice to cooperate in this way in the future with inclusive offers. There are no concrete projects yet. But we will certainly initiate some in the future.

Interview: Lisa-Maxine Klein