Safilo and Essilor in France for 'Special Olympics'

Great excitement in France for next January, when in Eaubonne the first Special Olympics event of the country will take place. The event will take place on the 23rd of January and will see the participation of 500 athletes that will meet to experience an important cultural and uplifting event, which combined passion for sport with dignity and individual success.

Safilo Group and Essilor International will take actively part to the manifestation as Official Worldwide Suppliers of Eyewear and Ophthalmic lenses to the Special Olympics Opening Eyes program. In 2003, both Safilo Group and Essilor International respectively signed three-year agreements with Special Olympics in support of 'Opening Eyes', a program focused on giving athletes with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to improve their vision, through eye health services, prescribing, and dispensing of eyeglasses.

During the Special Olympics day there will be athletic competitions and football matches, but also a series of free screenings organized within the 'Healthy Athletes' program, among which the 'Opening Eyes' visual screenings. About 150 athletes are expected to take part to the screening that will be conducted by 70 volunteer eye care professionals.

Even on this occasion Safilo Group and Essilor International will donate ophthalmic frames, sunglasses and ophthalmic lenses to the athletes that will take part to the screenings.