Summer Games

Aquatics

Athletics

Badminton

Basketball

Cricket

Cycling

Dancesport

Football

Golf

Handball

Judo

Netball

Power Lifting

Roller Skating

Softball

Table Tennis

Tennis

Volleyball

Winter Games

Alpine Skiing

Floor Hockey

Figure Skating

Speed Skating

Snow Boarding

Snow Shoeing

Floor Ball

Divisioning

At Special Olympics competitions, all athletes are given an equal chance to participate, perform and be recognized for doing their best by their teammates, family, and fans. This happens through a unique process called divisioning.

Athletes are grouped by age, gender and ability – giving everyone a reasonable chance to win. You can see divisioning in action in all sports, including athletics, football (soccer), table tennis, skiing, or gymnastics.

Divisioning Factsheet

Young Athletes & Developmental Sports

The Young Athletes program (YAP) is designed to introduce children ages two through seven to the benefits of sports involvement, and to prepare them for competitions when they are 8 years of age.

While children can participate in Young Athletes through age seven, as children get older, they are often ready for more sport-specific coaching and instruction. Developmental Sports activities can provide an age-appropriate introduction to sports for children with and without intellectual disabilities, ages 6-12 years old.

Children with and without intellectual disabilities can be effectively engaged in their homes with the support of objects that area easily available in our homes. The parents are educated in leading these activities . SO Bharat has compiled a YA (Young Athletes) Resource for supporting the family members in accomplishing this role. YA Resource

Unified Sports

Special Olympics Unified Sports brings together, in approximately equal numbers, Athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to train and compete on the same team. Throughout the year, in a variety of sports ranging from Football (Soccer) Basketball to golf to figure skating, Unified Sports athletes (players with Intellectual Disability) and Unified Partners (players without Intellectual Disability) improve their physical fitness, sharpen their skills, challenge the competition and have fun, too.

The concept of Unified Sports was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. Today, the initiative includes virtually all Special Olympics sports, and Unified Sports competitions are an important part of Special Olympics World Games, as well as local, State and National Games.