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New Mexico

Special Olympics is a global organization that serves athletes with intellectual disabilities working with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and coaches each year. Since the establishment of Special Olympics in 1968, the number of people with and without intellectual disabilities who are involved with the organization has been growing, but the unmet need to reach more people with intellectual disabilities is staggering.

Established in 1970, Special Olympics New Mexico provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in 12 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.

Year by year, Special Olympics New Mexico athletes are given opportunities to feel good about who they are and celebrate their accomplishments through successful experiences in sports. Be apart of the fun by being a fan of Special Olympics New Mexico.

Download the Special Olympics New Mexico Fact Sheet

New Jersey

Special Olympics is a global organization that serves athletes with intellectual disabilities working with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and coaches each year. Since the establishment of Special Olympics in 1968, the number of people with and without intellectual disabilities who are involved with the organization has been growing, but the unmet need to reach more people with intellectual disabilities is staggering.

Special Olympics New Jersey currently serves more than 24,000 athletes throughout the state. All programs are free to registered athletes including insurance, facilities, equipment, uniforms, housing & meals for events, awards, sports, education and more. In addition to programs offered on the local, county, sectional and state levels, Special Olympics New Jersey offers free programs and activities at the Special Olympics New Jersey Sports Complex in Lawrenceville, including Camp Shriver, fitness training, Athlete University, coach and volunteer training sessions, family programs and so much more.

Through sports training and competition, people with intellectual disabilities are benefited physically, mentally, socially and spiritually; families are strengthened, and the community at large, both through participation and observation, is united in understanding individuals with intellectual disabilities in an environment of equality, respect and acceptance.

Download the Special Olympics New Jersey Fact Sheet.

New Hampshire

Special Olympics is a global organization that serves close to 4 million athletes with intellectual disabilities working with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and coaches each year. Even so, the unmet need to reach more people with intellectual disabilities is staggering.

It’s at the local level—right here—where interested volunteers meet the athletes. That’s where the perceptions start to change and where the miracle of transformation takes place.

Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Those activities give them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship.

Download the Special Olympics New Hampshire Fact Sheet

New York

Special Olympics New York athletes are truly the greatest athletes in the world. Sure, they all want to win, but our athletes know something that many other athletes do not. Winning is not everything—competing and giving the best effort—this is what makes an athlete great.

Our mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of skills and friendship with their families, fellow athletes and the community.

Special Olympics New York currently serves more than 45,000 throughout the state. They train for weeks and months to prepare for local, regional and statewide competition. They are supported by more than 5,000 coaches and 4,300 volunteers. Athletes are never charged to participate in our programs.

Download the Special Olympics New York Fact Sheet

Nevada

Our sports trainings are geared toward the ability level of our athletes and our competitions are designed so that athletes compete against athletes of the same approximate ability level.

We offer the several programs for athletes that meet a range of ability levels and needs.

Our community-based training and competition is one of our more well-known programs as it offers 12 individual and team sports for athletes of all ages with a range of disabilities. Trainings and competitions take place in the evenings and weekends.

Our Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) is specifically for athletes with severe disabilities, with an emphasis on skill building and participation rather than competition.

Our Unified Sports® Program is characterized by an equal numbers of athletes with and without developmental disabilities of similar age and ability competing on teams together.

Our Schools Partnership Program is a sports training and competition program integrated into the regular school day for special education students. This program offers three sports during the school year: soccer, basketball and track & field.

At-a-Glance:
We offer 12 sanctioned community sports and five school-based sports in the Clark County School district. Annually, we have more than 22 school-based, local and state competition opportunities and more than 25 special events to raise both awareness and funding for our growing program.

Our Impact:
Our athletes often experience improved physical fitness, greater self-confidence and a more positive self-image. Our athletes and volunteers discover new abilities and talents and grow intellectually and socially. Our program increases community engagement and social participation among disabled children and adults and non-disabled community alike.

Download the Special Olympics Nevada Fact Sheet

Stavros Niarchos Foundation

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation and Special Olympics agreed a landmark collaboration in 2018 based on a shared vision to build global social inclusion. The partnership will support Special Olympics’ mission to forge stronger youth engagement worldwide and to transform educational systems through inclusive sport.

Golisano Foundation

In 2012, businessman and philanthropist, Tom Golisano committed $12 million over four years towards launching the Special Olympics Healthy Communities initiative. The goal was to create communities in eight countries and six U.S. States where Special Olympics athletes and other people with intellectual disabilities have the same access to health and wellness resources and services—and can attain the same level of good health—as all community members.

A Very Special Christmas

For over 30 years, the biggest and brightest voices in the recording industry have generously lent their time and talents to Special Olympics to create the holiday album series—A Very Special Christmas—the single most successful benefit recording in musical history.

Maryland

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for persons eight years of age and older 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.

Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with intellectual disabilities can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy, and benefit from participation in individual and team sports. These must be adapted only as necessary to meet the needs of those with mental and physical limitations.

Special Olympics believe that consistent training is indispensable to the development of an individual’s sports skills. In addition, competition among those of equal abilities is the most appropriate means of testing these skills, measuring progress, and providing incentives for personal growth.

Download the Special Olympics Maryland Fact Sheet

Maine

Special Olympics is a global organization that serves athletes with intellectual disabilities working with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and coaches each year. Since the establishment of Special Olympics in 1968, the number of people with and without intellectual disabilities who are involved with the organization has been growing, but the unmet need to reach more people with intellectual disabilities is staggering.

It’s at the local level—right here—where interested volunteers meet the athletes. That’s where the perceptions start to change and where the miracle of transformation takes place.

Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Those activities give them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship.

Download the Special Olympics Maine Fact Sheet