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 Finals.

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.