What We Do

Special Olympics is a global sports movement that unleashes the human spirit every day around the world through the transformative power and joy of sport. Through programming in sports, health, education and community building, Special Olympics is tackling the inactivity, stigma, isolation, and injustice that people with intellectual disabilities (ID) face. Our work goes far beyond sports events, driving social change that enables full social participation for people with ID.

Special Olympics approach is to deliver, high-quality training and competition in an inclusive culture through Unified Sports which allows for people with and without intellectual disabilities to play on the same field. We offer 30-plus Olympic-style individual and team sports that provide meaningful training and competition opportunities for athletes ranging in age from 2 to 99! Special Olympics teammates benefit in gaining quality sport experiences due to the rules set forth in Sport Rules Article 1. This premise for all Special Olympics sports is strengthened from partnerships with International Sport Federations, social inclusion opportunities through Unified Schools, as well as opportunities to develop basic skills at age 2 through Young Athletes.