Special Olympics

Special Olympics provides year-round athletic training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities who are at least eight years old.  Special Olympics gives people continuing opportunities to: improve physical fitness; demonstrate courage; experience joy; and develop and share their gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, friends, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.  There is no maximum age limit for participation in Special Olympics.

If parents would like their child to participate, they should contact the special education teacher at the local school or the special education department at the Teacher Resource Center.   Currently, students can participate in bowling, swimming, golf, track and field, horseback riding, ice skating, and powerlifting (age 16 and up.)

To qualify for Special Olympics, a child must be at least 8 years old and have an exceptionality of Intellectual Disability.  In order to participate in Special Olympics, all eligible persons must be properly registered. The Application for Participation in Special Olympics form must be completed by a physician and resubmitted or recertified every three years.  The Official Special Olympics Release Form must be completed only once. The forms may be obtained from the special education teacher at the student’s school.