Safilo and Essilor in Belgium for 'Special Olympics'

On the weekend between the 19th and 22nd of May the city of Gent hosted the 23rd edition of the National Special Olympics Games in Belgium. On hand to support the visual needs of athletes were Safilo Group and Essilor International, the Official Worldwide Suppliers of Eyewear and Ophthalmic lenses to the Special Olympics Opening Eyes program.

Once visual screenings are conducted by volunteer eye care professionals at the 'Opening Eyes' program, Safilo and Essilor donate eyewear and lenses to those needing correction. At this event, 480 athletes were screened, 253 ophthalmic frames and 240 sunglasses, while Essilor provided the ophthalmic lenses for the ophthalmic frames donated to the athletes whose sight problems were diagnosed during these visual screenings.

In 2003, both Safilo and Essilor 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.

This event saw the participation of 2,730 athletes from the whole region: they met in Gent to experience an important cultural and uplifting event, which combined passion for sport with dignity and individual success.

Safilo Group has always paid special attention to social causes and to the world of sports in general and found it natural to get involved with 'Opening Eyes' and to donate frames and sunglasses each year of its agreement. In 2003, 25,000 frames were donated.

Essilor International saw the opportunity of partnering with the Special Olympics Opening Eyes program as a way to further its efforts to improve physical and intellectual well-being of all those who need to see better. Polycarbonate hard-coated lenses are donated to those athletes in need. In 2003, 13,500 pairs were donated.