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We are helping to make the world a better, healthier and more joyful place—one athlete, one volunteer, one family member at a time.
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Search Results

There are 6,149 results that match your search. There are 6,149 results that match your search.
Programs

Guatemala

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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 Guatemala FactSheet (PDF)
Programs

Puerto Rico

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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 Puerto Rico FactSheet (PDF)

Rachelle Orozco

Rachelle outside in a floral dress.
Hello! My name is Rachelle Orozco, I am 16 years old and I attend Cortez High school in Phoenix, Arizona. I first got involved in Special Olympics my sophomore year last August when a friend of mine and I wanted to just get out there and make new friends. Ever since then, I have gotten the opportunity to get to know these amazing human beings. One of the new best friends I made in there was named Lexi and she's a big reason as to why I love being apart of this awesome community. I am beyond excited to embark on this new journey alongside Lexi!

Claire Adams

Claire Adams, 2023 Global Athlete Congress Participant
Special Olympics Ireland

Omar El Shenawy

Omar El Shenawy
Special Olympics Egypt
Programs

Ohio

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The mission of Special Olympics Ohio is to provide year-round sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics contributes to the physical, social, and psychological development of the athletes. Through successful experiences in sports, they gain confidence and build a positive self-image which carries over into the classroom, home, job and community.
Athletes

Connecting Through Special Olympics: My Interview with the National Director of Special Olympics Russia

By Josh Cohen, December 07, 2020
The Russian delegation at the Opening Ceremonies of the World Games in Abu Dhabi 2019.
A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to interview a Special Olympics Japan employee about the pandemic, the differences between our cultures, and our experiences with Special Olympics. I loved the opportunity of doing this and wanted to do it again.
Inclusive Health

Healthy Communities

One man giving a thumbs up and a man and a woman show off signed documents.
Special Olympics Healthy Communities began in 2012 with an investment from the Golisano Foundation. As of 2025, Healthy Communities has been activated in 159 Special Olympics Programs and has yielded athlete engagement, increased attention to health from athletes and caregivers, and significantly increased health systems partnerships. Through support from the Golisano Foundation, and in the United States in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Special Olympics Healthy Communities works to increase access to quality health care and effective prevention programming to improve the health of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Programs

Peru

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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 Peru FactSheet (PDF)
Ways to Give

Good News for Givers: Charitable Gift Annuity Rates Remain Strong!

Three girls standing on a podium over their ranking.
Looking for a way to make your generosity go further—while receiving fixed lifetime payments and valuable tax benefits? Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs) offer highly competitive payment rates, bringing together the best of both worlds.
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