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:

Stories

""
These global stories are about the power of Special Olympics to inspire hope, confidence and courage. Special Olympics changes the lives of our athletes with intellectual disabilities but also our coaches, families, volunteers and others who have the opportunity to take part.

‘Basketball was our Language’—Brother and Sister Star in the World’s First International Unified Basketball Camp

Mer and Amira were among 40 Special Olympics players and Unified Partners from Finland, Bulgaria and Lithuania taking part.
3 Min Read

Life-changing Benefits of Basketball with Special Olympics Hellas and Panathinaikos AKTOR

“Basketball has changed my life and I am proud to be a part of this family.”
2 Min Read

Special Olympics Celebrates Unity, Courage, and Friendship with European Basketball Week 2025

More than 25,000 players from over 35 countries will compete across 250 events between 25 November and 3 December.
3 Min Read

sportanddev: Paris to Host the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup 2026

The following is an excerpt from sportanddev’s article, detailing the upcoming 2026 Unified Football World Cup in Paris and sharing the excitement from sponsors and Special Olympics leadership.
1 Min Read

Special Olympics Athletes Create Their Own Tacos in Coca-Cola’s Campaign

Minette Dani and Ricky Landgraff from the Special Olympics Sweden team are participating this autumn in Coca-Cola’s taco campaign.
1 Min Read

Opening Doors: Advancing Inclusive Pediatric Care in Colombia

Recognized annually on 20 November, World Children’s Day brings awareness to children’s rights and welfare worldwide.
5 Min Read

Paris to Host the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup 2026

The following is an excerpt from the International Sports Press Association’s (AIPS) article, “Paris to host 3rd edition of the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup 2026” covering the announcement of Paris, France as the host of the Unified Football World Cup in 2026.
1 Min Read

Over 100 Sports Experts Convene in Cyprus for the Special Olympics Europe Eurasia Sports Conference 2025

The "Between the Games" Sports Conference focused on leveraging the Special Olympics World Games to further Sports Development for Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities in Europe and Eurasia.
4 Min Read

Lighting the Way Series, Part 3: A Family’s Journey with Special Olympics

Claudia Peña’s journey with Special Olympics began through her daughter, Paola, but quickly became a shared family experience, one where her family not only found community, but a deeper understanding of inclusion and resilience.
3 Min Read

Healthy Athletes and Home Runs: Bringing Health and Sports Together at SONA Softball Championship

Imagine being an athlete ready to compete at the highest level, but you're distracted by a throbbing mouth from tooth pain.
3 Min Read

Champions of Inclusive Public Health: Special Olympics at APHA 2025

Members of the Special Olympics Health team attended and presented at the American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting 2025 in Washington, D.C., sharing updates and news about our ongoing Health work.
9 Min Read

Using Basketball to Overcome the Exclusion of her Past: Cecilia Gonzalez

Meet Cecilia Gonzalez, a basketball player with Special Olympics Paraguay, whose life is now unrecognizable after she discovered her love for basketball and competing with Special Olympics.
1 Min Read