Special Olympics is a non-profit, international program of sports training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides year-round training and athletic competition for more than one million athletes in nearly 150 countries.

"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." - Special Olympics Oath

Special Olympics Mission Statement

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for persons eight years of age and older with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing oppportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Special Olympics Philosophy

Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with intellectual disabilities can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in individual and team sports, adapted as necessary to meet the needs of those with special intellectual and physical limitations.

Special Olympics believes that consistent training, including physical conditioning, good nutrition and wellness activites, is essential to the development of sports skills, and that competition among those of equal abilities is the most appropriate means of testing these skills, measuring progress and providing incentives for personal growth.

Special Olympics believes that through sports training and competition, people with intellectual disabilities benefit physically, mentally, socially and spiritually; families are strengthened; and the community at large, both through participation and observation, is united with people with intellectual disabilities in an environment of equality, respect and acceptance.

Special Olympics believes that the athlete is all important. Developing the physical, social, psychological, intellectual and spiritual qualities of the participants must underlie every effort made by all Special Olympics programs.

Every Special Olympics program must offer a variety of sports events and activities that are appropriate to the age and ability of each athlete. The program should also include Unified Sports training and competition in which athletes with and without intellectual disabilities participate together on teams, and the Motor Activities Training Program (M.A.T.P.) for individuals with such severe intellectual and physical handicaps that they cannot benefit from standard Special Olympics training and competition programs.

Special Olympics believes that every athlete deserves an equal chance to excel during compettition. Thus, each competition division within a given event must be structured so that every athlete and team in a division has a reasonable chance to excel during competition. This must be done by placing athletes and teams in divisions according to accurate records of previous performance or trial heats and, when relevant, by grouping by age and gender.

Special Olympics seeks to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship and love of participation for their own sake. Special Olympics believes that every athlete should participate to his or her fullest potential. This means that in team sports, each coach must see to it that each athlete has frequent opportunities to participate. This also means that each Games and Tournament should offer as many sports as possible, with events for athletes of all ability levels. Special Olympics promotes this philosophy in the training of it's coaches and officials.

All Special Olympic Games and competition at the local, state, national and international levels-reflect the values, standards, traditions, ceremonies and activities embodied in the ancient and modern olympic movement, broadened and enriched to celebrate the moral and spiritual qualities of persons with intellectual disabilities so as to enhance their dignity and self-esteem.

Special Olympics shall offer every athlete multiple opportunities annually to participate in locally based competition in each sport in which he or she is interested. These activities shall include competition with teams or individuals other than those with whom the athlete trains. In addition, in order to give athletes broader opportunities, area, state, provincial, regional, national and international competition, as well as tournaments, are organized with available resources. These type of competitions are open to athletes representing the full range of skill levels.

Special Olympics Principles

To provide the most enjoyable, beneficial and challenging activities for athletes with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics operates worldwide in accordance with the following principles and beliefs:

That the Spirit of Special Olympics-skill, courage, sharing and joy-incorporates universal values which transcend all boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, race or religion.

That the goal of Special Olympics is to help bring all persons with intellectual disabilities into the larger society under condition whereby they are accepted, respected and given a chance to become productive citizens.

That, as a means of achieving this goal, Special Olympics encourages its more capable athletes to move from Special Olympics training and competition into school and community programs where they can compete in regular sporting activities. The decision to leave or to continue Special Olympics is the athlete's choice.

That all Special Olympic activities-at the local, state, national and international levels-reflect the values, standards, traditions, ceremonies and events embodied in the modern olympic movement, broadened and enriched to celebrate the moral and spiritual qualities of persons with intellectual disabilities so as to enhance their dignity and self-esteem.

That participation in Special Olympics training programs and competitive events is open to all people with intellectual disabilities who are at least eight years old, regardless of the degree of their disabitity.

That comprehensive, year-round sports training is available to every Special Olympics athlete, conducted by well-qualified coaches in accordance with the standardized Sports Rules formulated and adopted by Special Olympics International and that every athlete who participates in a Special Olympics sport will be trained in that sport.

That evey Special Olympics program includes sports events and activites that are appropriate to the age and ability of each athlete, from motor activites to the most advanced competition.

That Special Olympics privides full participation for every athlete regardless of economic circumstance and conducts training and competition under the most favorable conditions possible, including facilities, administration, training, coaching, officiating and events.

That Special Olympics gives each participant an equal chance to excel by basing competition in every event on accurate records of previous performance or trial heats and, when relevant, by grouping by age and gender.

That at every Awards Ceremony, in addition to the traditional medals for first, second and third places, athletes finishing form fourth to last place are presented a suitable place ribbon with appropriate ceremony.

That, to the greatest extent possible, Special Olympics activities will be run by an involving local volunteers, from school and college age to senior citizens, in order to create greater opportunities for public understanding of and participation with people with intellectual disabilities.

That, although Special Olympics is primarily a program of sports training and competition, efforts are made to offer, as an integral part of Special Olympics Games, a full range of artistic, social and cultural experiences such as dances, art exhibits, concerts, visits to historic sites, clinics theatrical performances and similar activities.

That the goal of Special Olympics in every nation is to develop organizations and conduct events at the community level. Countries that, because of specific economic, social or cultural circumstances may find it difficult to achieve this goal rapidly, may hold National Games on a regular basis to enhance the development of popular understanding and provide increased visibility for their citizens with intellectual disabilities. All participating countries are invited to send a delegation to the Special Olympics World Games held every two years, alternation between summer and winter, privided that in all cases Special Olympics standards are adhered to in the preparation of athletes and coaches for the Games.

That the families of Special Olympics athletes are encouraged to play an active role in their community Special Olympics program, to share in the training of thier athletes and to assest in the public education effort needed to create greater understanding of the emotional, physical, social and spiritual needs of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

That Special Olympics encourages community, state and national sports programs, both professional and amateur, to include demonstrations by Special Olympics athletes as part of their major events.

That Special Olympic activities take place in public, with full coverage by the media, so that athletes with intellectual disabilities may reveal to the world those special qualities of the human spirit in which thy excel-skill, courage, sharing and joy.