Better Health, Better Lives

Special Olympics works every day to improve the health of athletes with intellectual disabilities worldwide. 

Impact Around The World

With offices in over 170 countries, Special Olympics has events and competitions daily. Take a look at a collection of excellent photos from our international team.
Speedskater Paige Norton of British Columbia.

Photo: Megan Grittani-Livingston

What We Do

It's sports and so much more. Every day, around the world, Special Olympics is making champions.

Who We Are

Special Olympics is almost 4 million athletes with intellectual disabilities around the world plus families, coaches, volunteers, sponsors and celebrities supporting us every day.
Athletes, families, coaches and volunteers from Greece at the 2011 World Summer Games in Athens.

Spotlight on Africa

More about Africa »
Deon Namiseb, Special Olympics Global Ambassador at the 2011 Summer World Games

"Believe in Yourself!"

Born in Namibia with both an intellectual and physical disability, Deon Namiseb is an extraordinary example of the effect Special Olympics can have on an athlete's life. LEARN MORE ››


Anti-Malaria Campaign Debuts

Special Olympics and Lions Club International recently staged five Family Health Forum events to address health issues challenging our athletes, including a ground-breaking anti-malaria campaign. Learn more ››

Simba Conquers Kilimanjaro

Athlete Herith Sulimein, aka Simba, has proved that it is all about ability. He is the first African athlete to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Learn more ››


Spotlight on Asia Pacific

More about Asia Pacific »
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It's Australia in 2013 Games

First Asia Pacific Games in Newcastle  LEARN MORE ››


Goal for Malaysia's football athletes

Special Olympics Malaysia in discussions with FIFA to grow Malaysian athlete footballers. LEARN MORE ››

Scoring on her first try

Special Olympics Thailand’s Rattanaporn Thamsiwaphat's first World Summer Games in Athens was a defining experience. LEARN MORE ››


Spotlight on East Asia

More about East Asia »
300 x 200 PPJ.DQ and SOEA partnership Kick-off

New Partners for Special Olympics

Special Olympics East Asia kicks off the five-year partnership with food chain Papa John's and Dairy Queen in Guangzhou.LEARN MORE ››


Join Us in Shanghai

Join our Special Olympics Global Ambassadors to support East Asia's annual fundraising event and become an Unity Partner of our Movement. LEARN MORE ››

PyeongChang 2013 Update

See more information from the PyeongChang Games Organizing Committee. LEARN MORE ››


Spotlight on Europe/Eurasia

More about Europe/Eurasia »
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European Football Week Kicks Off !

50,000 athletes are taking part in Football events across the region this week Read all about it ››


Power of Football

The power of football to transform lives for people with intellectual disabilities will be witnessed at the upcoming UEFA EURO 2012. LEARN MORE ››

Unified Partners Work for Change

Be inspired by two Unified Partners who work tirelessly to develop the Unified programme in Great Britain LEARN MORE ››


Spotlight on Latin America

More about Latin America »
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Power of Sports

On April 15, Panama, Central America and the Caribbean witnessed the Power of Sports and Unity in the Opening Ceremony of the Central American Games.Learn More ››


Yes, You Can

Tennis legend Sixto Morales explains why Special Olympics is important to him and how its message is encouraging to all people. learn more ››

Never Give Up

A problem at birth led to an intellectual disability for Grette Hidalgo, but it has not stopped her. She has a big goal for her life. Learn More ››


Spotlight on MENA

More about Middle East-North Africa »
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Attracting New Volunteers in Bahrain

Targeting volunteers, Special Olympics Bahrain held a conference, entitled “Special Olympics… in support of our SO athletes!”. LEARN MORE ››


Table Tennis Festival in Baghdad

At the Youth Sports Club, SO Iraq held the annual Table Tennis Festival, which included a training course in table tennis for coaches and trainers of different ages. SEE MORE ››


Spotlight on North America

More about North America »
Jason Wright

Another Hole in One

Hitting a hole-in-one is nothing new for Special Olympics athlete Jason Wright from Springfield.  Wright shot his first hole-in-one in June 2004 at the Wellington Country Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. LEARN MORE ››


Merging Sports and Health within the Movement

Athlete leaders have demanded that we look closely at where we as an organization may have set our own expectations for our athletes too low, and to raise them. LEARN MORE ››

Rosa's Law

A journey that began as one Maryland family’s battle for respect and acceptance for their daughter and sister, Rosa, became a significant milestone... LEARN MORE ››



Quick Links


“If people would believe in us like Special Olympics and see what we can do, they would be amazed. My ambition in life is to turn ‘no’ into ‘yes.’  If someone says I can’t do something, I want to prove I can. ”Suzanne O’Moore, Special Olympics Australia athlete

Resources for Leaders in Special Olympics

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Photos, videos, info, how-tos and more

Special Olympics is a movement of leaders at all levels in close to 180 countries. For anyone passionate about our mission and ready to do something about it, we have tools and resources to get things done.
LEARN MORE


Special Olympics Sponsors

Become a Sponsor Meet Our Sponsors

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Find events near you and learn about volunteer opportunities at one of our 220 worldwide locations.

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Show Your Support

Help with Special Olympics financial services products.
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Show Your Support

Coca-Cola has been a worldwide sponsor of Special Olympics for decades.
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Show Your Support

The Procter & Gamble Company has supported the movement for more than 28 years.
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Show Your Support

Mattel Corporation sponsors the Young Athletes program worldwide. 
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Special Olympics Blog

Rise Up Revolutionaries!

And today, I watched this video by Stu Chaifetz about teachers and adults who bullied Akian, a ten year old with autism in Cherry Hill New Jersey.  It is a tale of fear and rage, as heartbreaking as it is infuriating.  It is a call to all of us to rise up again, to demand change in Cherry Hill, to ask for an accounting from those who were abusive.   Our own young leaders in Special Olympics Project Unify will understand the horrors of this video perhaps better than anyone.  In a special way, I ask their leadership now.read more »

Posted on 2012-04-26 by Tim

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