About Us

The Program

Special Olympics is a year-round worldwide program of sports training and
athletic competition for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics is unique in that it provides for competition at all levels of
ability by assigning them to competition divisions based on both age and
actual performance. Even athletes in the lowest divisions may advance all
the way to the World Games.

Purpose
The purpose of Special Olympics is to contribute to the physical, social and psychological development of persons with intellectual disabilities. Through
positive successful experiences in sport, they can gain confidence and
self-mastery and start to build a self-image associated with success rather
than failure. Success on the playing field often has carry over value into the classroom, home, and work place.