China

A significant leadership gap remains across Special Olympics globally. 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.

[Paris, France - 19 February 2026] On 19 February, more than 200 Special Olympics athletes, Unified partners (athletes without intellectual disabilities), and media convened at the City Hall in Paris, France for a landmark moment: the official unveiling of the 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams selected to compete in the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026.

Families—parents, caregivers, siblings, and other supporters—play a major role in the Special Olympics movement.

Families—parents, caregivers, siblings, and other supporters—play a major role in the Special Olympics movement.

Today, Special Olympics is looking back at all the fathers, father-figures, and grandfathers who, through the power of sport, have helped raise, support, coach, and love Special Olympics athletes around the world.

Special Olympics was in the spotlight at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) as Special Olympics Ireland badminton athlete Jonathan Deering delivered a keynote address focused on the power of the sport at the BWF Members’ Forum held in Xiamen, China at the end of April.

Meet Fan Xinwei—a rising star in Special Olympics floorball from Shanghai, China! Since 2016, Fan has been making his mark on the international stage, competing at the Special Olympics Korea Floorball Invitational in 2018 and 2019.

Although the city of Turin offered sites, history, and iconic Italian cuisine, the only thing on this floorball player’s mind was victory.

The Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 is brimming with intense competition, inspiring stories, and heartfelt emotions. Dive into the spirit of these Games with our daily photo updates, capturing the essence of this extraordinary event.

In the heart of its region, YangLingZi School serves as a model of Unified Champion Schools, a place where students of all abilities come together to learn, play, and grow side by side.