Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Find Special Olympics Near Me
We are helping to make the world a better, healthier and more joyful place—one athlete, one volunteer, one family member at a time.
Your Program
Based on your location, your local program is %location%.
Your location could not be automatically determined. Choose a program below:
Your Special Olympics Local Program:
Looking for a different local program? Choose a program from the list below:
Africa
""
Asia Pacific
""
East Asia
""
Europe Eurasia
""
Latin America
""
Middle East North Africa
""
North America
""
Find It Fast
Find job opportunities with Special Olympics
What sports does Special Olympics offer?
Contact Special Olympics
Find events near me
Ways to give to Special Olympics

Search Results

There are 6,138 results that match your search. There are 6,138 results that match your search.
Press Releases

Special Olympics and the Golisano Foundation Announce 2025 Global Golisano Health Leadership Award Honorees

A large group of individuals stand on a stage and pose for a photo, holding awards at the conclusion of an awards ceremony.
[Rochester, NY, USA - 3 October 2025] Last night, Special Olympics and the Golisano Foundation proudly announced the seven recipients of the 2025 Global Golisano Health Leadership Awards, the highest honor given from Special Olympics Health.
Programs

Southern California

""
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 Southern California Fact Sheet.
In the News

Special Olympics x Michael Phelps Foundation: Make Every Race Count

a coach showing an athletes proper technique
The Make Every Race Count campaign was created to help swimmers turn their failure into success.
Athletes

From Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s Backyard to the National Stage: Tim Gowen’s Life in Special Olympics

Two men wearing dark blue t-shirts are coming out of the ocean onto a beach. They have their arms around each other.
Only a handful of Special Olympics athletes have had the opportunity to meet the founder of Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Even fewer athletes had the opportunity to compete in her backyard the year before Special Olympics even began. Luckily, for Tim Gowen, he was able to do both.
Videos

A Special Olympics Story: Chris Nikic

A Special Olympics Story: Chris Nikic
More than a Special Olympics Florida athlete and Ambassador, more than the first person with Down syndrome to become an IRONMAN and landing in the Guinness World Records, more than finishing the New York and Boston Marathons, and more than winning ESPY and Laureus Awards.
Videos

Inclusion Revolution Radio: Tim Shriver Jr. and Soeren Palumbo

Graphic includes Inclusion Revolution Radio logo and a photo of Tim Shriver Jr. And Soeren Palumbo with text that reads, “Season #6 Episode 3 Tim Shriver Jr. Soeren Palumbo Co-Creators, Spread the Word”
Welcome to our special edition of Inclusion Revolution Radio and Spotlight Sessions from Special Olympics and accessiBe. It’s an exclusive series of conversations, where we talk about all things inclusion, sport and accessibility. This episode is brought to you by United Airlines who is a proud partner of Special Olympics' Capitol Hill Day.
Videos

IRR: Global Leadership Coalition for Inclusion One-Year Anniversary

Season #6 Episode 5 Panos Vazaios Program Officer, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Shawn Ferguson Chief Global Government Relations Officer, Special Olympics
Reflecting on the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, this week’s episode of Inclusion Revolution Radio celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Global Leadership Coalition for Inclusion.
Videos

Kenya Koene at World Winter Games 2025

Kenya Koene at World Winter Games 2025
At just 3 years old, Special Olympics Netherlands athlete Kenya Koene began dancing. The footwork came naturally, as she followed in the footsteps of her mother, Irene Reniers, a longtime dancer.
Videos

IRR: Health Access

IRR: Health Access
Download the TranscriptChildren’s National Hospital pediatric occupational therapist Katherine Williamson joins Inclusion Revolution Radio to discuss building more inclusive healthcare experiences for neurodivergent children, alongside disability advocates and "Patrice: The Movie" stars Patrice Jetter and Garry Wickham, who share their firsthand experiences navigating a healthcare system not designed with them in mind.Read the Full Article

Pelotlhomogi Rantseo

Pelotlhomogi Rantseo - Special Olympics Africa - Parent
Special Olympics Africa - Parent
Previous
Next