The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Our vision is an inclusive world for all, driven by the power of sport, through which people with intellectual disabilities live active, healthy and fulfilling lives.
Special Olympics offers training and competition opportunities year-round to athletes from 8 to 80 in more than 30 different sports. Special Olympics competitions occur more than 136 times a day, 365 days a year, in nearly every country in the world. Competitions vary in size from single sports championships hosted by local Programs, to larger Provincial, State, National, Regional and World Games.
The fundamental difference between Special Olympics competitions and those of other sports organizations is that athletes of all ability levels are encouraged to participate, and every athlete is recognized for his/her performance.
Unified Sports
Motor Activity Training Program (MATP)
Fitness