FIVE athletes from Essex won Bronze medals at the Special Olympics World Games 2023, held in Berlin.

Charlie Hood from Basildon, Bradley Stuart and Daniel Braithwaite from Benfleet and Harry Camm and Jack Venturini of Leigh-On-Sea represented Special Olympics Great Britain in the Unified Football Team.

They beat Germany in the third / fourth play-off to claim their medals.

Special Olympics GB is the largest provider of year-round sports training and competition for children and adults of all abilities with intellectual disabilities in the UK. This year, it has 82 athletes representing 17 sports at the Games, the world's largest inclusive sporting event in 2023 with more than 7,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities competing across 26 sports over nine days.

Colin Dyer, CEO of Special Olympics GB, said: "We are absolutely thrilled for Charlie, Bradley, Daniel, Harry and Jack. This is a remarkable achievement, from exceptional athletes and people.

"Each one of our competitors has defied all odds to partake in these games and to come away with a medal caps a monumental accomplishment. They have undoubtedly brought immense pride to themselves, their family and their nation."

The Berlin 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games aims to achieve a permanent change of consciousness for an inclusive society, through the unified power of the Special Olympics movement and all athletes worldwide. In doing so, it encourages that we can do so much more together than alone, and that we are 'unbeatable together.'

The Special Olympics World Games is the largest inclusive sports event of 2023. It's the first time Germany has hosted the games, and the aim of the Games is to help achieve greater recognition and social participation of people with intellectual disabilities.

The Special Olympics GB team is part be funded by the fundraising efforts of Jingle Jam, created in 2011 by one of the most-followed YouTube gaming channels, Yogscast, and recognised as the world's largest charity gaming even. In addition, the unified football team is being supported by the League Managers Association (LMA).