With more than 550,000 athletes across 35 countries, Special Olympics programs in the Asia Pacific region are expanding rapidly. Our goal in the region is promoting respect, inclusion, and human dignity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through sports, healthcare, education and leadership.
What We Offer
Sports
We focus on regular training and high quality coaching to help athletes of all abilities develop skills, improve physical fitness and build confidence. We offer structured regional and international competitions, giving athletes the chance to showcase their talents and celebrate achievement on a global stage. It is the engine that drives inclusion across the Special Olympics movement.
Health
Good health is essential to the well-being and success of people with IDD, yet many face significant barriers to quality healthcare. Through strategic partnerships, specialized clinical director training, and targeted inclusive health initiatives such as Healthy Athletes and Young Athletes, we strive to bridge these gaps and create a future where every individual has access to quality healthcare and the opportunity to lead a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Education
Creating an environment where every student, regardless of ability, feels welcomed, valued, and included in school is critical to the success of any education system. At Special Olympics Asia Pacific, we foster this environment through Unified Champion Schools®, using sport and inclusive leadership programming for youth to change the way students, schools and whole education systems work.
Leadership
Ensuring that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can reach their full potential is central to our work. We focus on building confidence, developing skills, and creating meaningful opportunities for individuals with IDD to share their experiences and perspectives with the wider world. Equally important is bringing people with and without IDD together. We work to create inclusive environments where everyone can learn, grow, and thrive side by side. Through these shared experiences, individuals are empowered to lead and advocate on key issues such as access to healthcare, quality education, employment opportunities, and reducing inequalities.
Our Regional Reach
With 5 competitions per hour across the globe, our region represents over half a million athletes, unified partners, coaches, and volunteers.
559,850
Athletes
82,578
Volunteers
4,392
Competitions
44,177
Coaches
52,091
Unified Partners
35
Countries
Stories of Impact
Human R.A.C.E.
Welcome to Human R.A.C.E., our engine to drive Respect, Acceptance, Change and Equality for people with intellectual disabilities. We are more similar than we are different, so why discriminate? Hear our voices. Feel our fears. Share our joy as we race to the finish line.
Sana Won’t Stop Running or Smiling
Sana (she only has one name like Madonna) was all smiles before her 400m Level C preliminary race at the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin.
2 Min Read
From Isolation to Confidence: Riya Trains for World Winter Games
Riya, a Special Olympics athlete from Bharat, says she used to be alone and lonely. Now she’s part of a talented team that’s heading to the World Winter Games in Turin, Italy—and her life is full of confidence, camaraderie and hope.
1 Min Read
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Asia Pacific Face-to-Face Fundraising and Telemarketing
Opening pathways to health, education, and leadership through the power of sport.
Across 35 programs in the Asia Pacific region, Special Olympics Asia Pacific (SOAP) partners with communities to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can play, learn, and lead.
Your support — through face-to-face fundraising and telemarketing — fuels year-round sports training, competitions, inclusive health and leadership development for people with IDD, helping build the long-term systems that make inclusion possible.
Across 35 programs in the Asia Pacific region, Special Olympics Asia Pacific (SOAP) partners with communities to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can play, learn, and lead.
Your support — through face-to-face fundraising and telemarketing — fuels year-round sports training, competitions, inclusive health and leadership development for people with IDD, helping build the long-term systems that make inclusion possible.
Our Partners
Supporting Young Athletes and families, regional competitions and Unified Schools
Supporting health and fitness through Special Olympics MoveFit
Supporting Unified Champion Schools programming through government engagement and educator training
Supporting coach development and Unified Champion Schools
Supporting sports development and youth leadership initiatives
Making Inclusion Possible through leadership and sports initiatives
Official sponsor of Special Olympics International Sport and Coach Programming
Supporting the expansion of Unified Champion Schools programming
Empowering young leaders to enhance inclusion in schools
Official Broadcast Partner and Global Presenting Sponsor of Unified Sports
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