Athletes

A powerful story of how the Special Olympics Unified with Refugees initiative offers refugee children with intellectual disabilities a pathway from exclusion to belonging.

From June 20 – 26, the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will bring nearly 3,000 athletes and 1,500 coaches from all 50 states to Minneapolis to compete across 16 Olympic-type team and individual sports. ESPN will provide 48 hours of live competition coverage on ESPN+ through the ESPN App, featuring events including athletics, swimming, powerlifting and flag football, along with ABC preview and review programming.

Celebrated annually on 11 June, International Day of Play reminds us that play isn’t just fun; it’s an essential part of childhood development. It’s how children build confidence, communication skills, physical coordination, and social-emotional development—laying the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being. Early childhood play programs like Special Olympics Young Athletes bring this to life.

History in the making! 🙌 Watch what happened when 25 Special Olympics athlete leaders from Canada, the Caribbean, and the U.S. gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the first-ever SONA Regional Athlete Congress.Completely planned and driven by the athletes themselves, this historic event was all about amplifying voices, building leadership skills, and shaping the future of the movement. From mastering project management to delivering powerful campaign speeches, these incredible leaders spent days preparing to make a difference back home—and on the global stage at the 2027 World Games in Chile.As the athletes remind us: "Inclusion is a team sport." It's not enough to just listen—it's time for action. Hit play to see the highlights, the emotional voting results, and the incredible power of athlete leadership! 🔔 Subscribe for more compelling stories from our athletes!

Ben Haack is a renaissance man. He’s a Special Olympics Athlete Leader from Australia (including several board assignments), a football (soccer) player and now, he’s added the title of “author” to his list of accomplishments.

Coaches from across Europe Eurasia gathered in Breda, The Netherlands on 28 February for an enriching and dynamic seminar on short track speed skating, followed by a Special Olympics Netherlands National Short Track Event.

A weeklong series of site visits across Ireland highlighted innovative partnerships, athlete led initiatives, and institutional leadership advancing inclusive health for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Under the theme “Global Visions, Local Actions: Innovation and Sustainability in Sport Management,” the conference fostered dialogue on sport governance, innovation, sustainability, and the social impact of sport.

Before, during, and after the Congress in March; athlete leaders know they’ve been empowered to lead and discuss difficult topics and find solutions to big challenges.

Talk a little with the athlete leaders going to the Special Olympics North America Athlete Congress in Michigan, and you will notice they have some things in common.