What We Do

Special Olympics is a global sports movement for everyone that unleashes the human spirit every day around the world through the transformative power and joy of sport. Through programming in sports, health, education and leadership, Special Olympics is tackling the inactivity, stigma, isolation, and injustice that people with intellectual disabilities (ID) face. Our work is driving social change that enables full social participation for people with ID.

Special Olympics approach is to deliver, high-quality training and competition in an inclusive environment through its traditional sport programming, and it’s Unified Sport model, which allows for people with and without intellectual disabilities to play together. Special Olympics programs around the world offer more than 30 individual and team sports that provide meaningful training and competition opportunities for athletes ranging in age from 2 to 99! Special Olympics sport is strengthened through partnerships with International Sport Federations, by fostering social inclusion through Unified Schools, and by creating early development opportunities for children as young as two through Young Athletes.