Stories From the Field of Play

Early in the morning, as the first light touches the fields of Migori, athletes from Special Olympics Kenya (SOK) Club Migori, drawn from special schools and special units within Migori town, begin to arrive.

[Santiago, Chile - 27 October 2026] From 16 – 24 October 2027, Santiago, Chile, will host the Special Olympics World Games, the first to be held in the Southern Hemisphere and in Latin America.

As I reflect on my experience as a member of the first-ever Special Olympics North America Athlete Media Team at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, it occurred to me that I was a part of history. Special Olympics North America had never brought an athlete media team to the USA Games, having them highlight athlete experiences from a peer perspective. This unique opportunity showed everyone that people with disabilities deserve representation in the media.

Twenty-three leaders from eight National Programs went behind the scenes as Special Olympics builds next generation of event hosts

Two hundred and fifty athletes from 35 countries dived into five days of racing at the Special Olympics European Swimming Open Malta 2026. Hosted by Special Olympics Malta at the National Pool Complex from 10 to 14 September, the competition featured 25m, 50m, and 100m individual events, along with 4×25m freestyle relays for male, female, and mixed teams.

The 2025 Sport Partnerships Survey: The Partnership Effect is live. Check out all the information on Special Olympics International, its regional and national programs’ sport federation partnerships, and their growth helping to expand inclusive sport for all.

Special Olympics Judo Open Sarajevo 2026 brought together 130 judokas with intellectual disabilities, marking an important milestone for inclusive sport and demonstrating the growing global impact of Special Olympics judo.

Last September, eight pairs of Special Olympics judokas took to the tatami for a kata competition held at Sarajevo’s Hotel Hills Arena alongside the International Judo Federation (IJF) World Kata Championship 2026.

With the 107th Lions International Convention well under way in Orlando, Florida, now is the perfect moment to discover the depth and breadth of the powerful global partnership between Special Olympics and Lions Clubs International Foundation. From Opening Eyes in Kenya and Brazil and MATP in Great Britain to Unified Sports in Jamaica and Unified with Refugees in Spain, the combined energy of Lions, Leos and our athletes simply knows no bounds! You will be moved, you will be inspired and you will be ready to serve once you have experienced the power of Mission: Inclusion!

During the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, Christian Holleman sat down with three-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines.