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All Special Olympics Programs are experiencing a new kind of normal in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing all to go virtual this year.

Nazareth College officially broke ground today on its $23.5 million Golisano Training Center. The 91,000-square-foot center will bring together the strengths of Nazareth College, Special Olympics, and the Golisano Foundation to create a new model of inclusion, fitness, and wellness for athletes with intellectual disabilities. It will open in Fall 2019.

A journey that began as one Maryland family’s battle for respect and acceptance for their daughter and sister, Rosa, became a significant milestone in the ongoing battle for dignity, inclusion and respect of all people with intellectual disabilities when United States President Barack Obama signed bill S.2781 into federal law on October 5, 2010.

Special Olympics Pilipinas (SOP) is dedicated to empowering athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the Philippines. Our vision is to cultivate inclusive spaces in schools and community sports clubs nationwide. These are environments where every athlete, regardless of ability, can experience the transformative joy of sport and the power of lifelong friendship.

Currently, we are proud to support a growing community of 1,000 athletes, supported by a network of 15 grassroots sports clubs, 32 Unified Champion Schools and 15 UCS Banner Schools. To ensure this impact is both efficient and sustainable, we work in close partnership with the Philippine government. Through strategic collaborations with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and various Local Government Units (LGUs), we are integrating inclusive sports into the national fabric. This allows us to establish accessible, weekly training sessions in school and community sports clubs across the country, providing our athletes with a consistent and reliable space to grow, compete, and belong.

Our holistic approach combines athletic training with vital health services. By linking our year-round sports programs with the Healthy Athletes® program, we provide our community with essential access to specialized healthcare. By reaching as many athletes as possible across the archipelago, we ensure that health and sport go hand in hand for every participant.

As we continue to grow, we look forward to reaching even more athletes nationwide, as every individual deserves access to the inclusive spaces that Special Olympics Pilipinas offers. By integrating our sports clubs with Unified partners and volunteers, we are slowly but surely fostering a culture of belonging by breaking down barriers and dismantling stigmas against people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PIDDs) across the country. At Special Olympics Pilipinas, we aren't just playing a game; we are building a future where everyone is welcome.

Two Serbian athletes—separated by age but united by the game—proudly represented their country.

The 2017 closing ceremony in Austria also marked the start of the countdown to Abu Dhabi becoming the first Middle East host.

There are 50,739 Athlete Leaders worldwide, with 34.6% more men serving in these roles than women. The Women Play, Women Lead initiative is working to address this issue.

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Kansas Police Chief Richard LaMunyon created the first Torch Run in 1981 and founded Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.