🏅🏅 Celebrate Special Olympics 55th Anniversary by donating now to help 2X as many athletes become champions! 🏅🏅
The Special Olympics Florida triathlon training team will be featured on HBOs Real Sports with Bryant Gumble TUESDAY, JULY 18 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT).
Results of competition in 27 events featuring over 7,000 athletes.
Cheer on our athletes ahead of the World Games by sharing their stories—and signing the pledge!
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In every corner of the earth, Special Olympics is changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. These stories come from all around the world
- CHEERS FOR CHAMPIONS!
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50 Game Changers
ESPN and Special Olympics have teamed up on a year-long storytelling initiative telling the stories of game changers and game changing moments toward inclusion. Check back each week for a new story of inclusion. - Pledge to Include
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Stories of Inclusion
Special Olympics and over 5 Million of our athletes are leading the charge for full inclusion of people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID). The movement is rooted in the spirit of our founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who took a rebellious stand against the injustices faced by people with Intellectual Disabilities in 1968. Today, the fight for inclusion is more relevant than ever. People of all ages, races, genders, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities continue to face discrimination, ignorance, and disparagement. Just as Eunice Kennedy Shriver did 50 years ago, Special Olympics is setting a stake in the ground to create change and, this time, our athletes are leading the way.
Stay In Touch
See inspiring stories, photos and videos in our Special Olympics monthly newsletter.Special Olympics World Games Berlin Opening Ceremony Kicks Off World’s Largest Sporting and Humanitarian Event in 2023
Fifty thousand athletes, coaches, families, volunteers and supporters of the World Games joined together in an electric celebration of inclusion in Olympiastadion, Berlin.3 Min ReadGuatemalan Soccer Star Leads Special Olympics Guatemala Futsal Team to Gold in Berlin
Renowned Guatemalan national team member and international soccer player, Maria Fernanda Rossell, is making an impact on and off the pitch as a coach at Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023.1 Min ReadHead-to-Head in Judo
“The moment I was crowned with a medal is a moment that cannot be described in any words. It is good to I see that everyone is proud of what I have achieved.”1 Min Read
Get Involved
Special Olympics offers many ways to take part. There are short-term and long-term volunteer opportunities, the option of playing Unified Sports and to become a Special Olympics athlete.
Make a Difference
Please donate and help us get one more athlete onto the playing field.
OUR ORGANIZATION
About Us
Through the power of sports, people with intellectual disabilities discover new strengths and abilities, skills and success. Our athletes inspire people in their communities and elsewhere to open their hearts to a wider world of human talents and potential.-
Mission
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. -
History
From a backyard summer camp for people with intellectual disabilities to a global movement, Special Olympics has been changing lives and attitudes since 1968. -
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, was a pioneer in the worldwide struggle for rights and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities. -
Leadership Teams
Special Olympics is led by a senior management team with broad corporate and nonprofit experience. Seven regional offices around the world are headed up by managing directors who support the ongoing growth and development of programs in their regions. In addition, Special Olympics has a Global Athlete Leadership Council which features an Athlete Leader from each of the seven regions and provides feedback, guidance, and ideas to the Special Olympics International Board of Directors and Leadership Team. -
About Intellectual Disabilities
Children and adults with intellectual disabilities inspire us every day at Special Olympics events around the world. But what are intellectual disabilities?
Share your story of Inclusion
Our revolution starts with you. Upload your video, photos and story to add your voice to the unified generation.
#unifiedgenerationSpecial Olympics Global Leadership Coalition for Inclusion
On June 18, 2023, on the sidelines of the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, countries and organizations came together to launch the first-ever Global Leadership Coalition for Inclusion.2 Min ReadHasbro Supports Special Olympics World Games
Support for the World Games includes sponsorship of the Global Youth Leadership Summit, Founders Reception, and donations of Hasbro toys and games for Athlete Lounges.3 Min ReadSpecial Olympics & the International Hockey Federation Sign Partnership in Berlin to Celebrate the Introduction of Hockey as a Sport at World Games
On 24 June 2023, Special Olympics and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) took to the pitch to pen an inaugural agreement between the two organizations, dedicated to the development of hockey for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).1 Min ReadSpecial Olympics and the International Table Tennis Federation Foundation Sign MOU at Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023
The ITTF Foundation and Special Olympics have set out to use table tennis as a way to foster development through sport and ultimately continue to grow the inclusivity of the world-wide table tennis community.2 Min Read-
Mission
Our Reach
3,131,611
ATHLETES
33,742
COMPETITIONS
527,001
VOLUNTEERS
297,995
COACHES
18,496
ATHLETE HEALTH SCREENINGS
15,008
Unified Schools
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