Special Olympics Brand

Special Olympics is a global sports movement founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. It provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in more than 30 Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The organisation operates in more than 170 countries and supports nearly 4 million athletes and Unified Sports partners, delivering close to 50,000 games and competitions each year.

Its programmes extend beyond competition. Unified Sports pairs athletes with intellectual disabilities and partners without intellectual disabilities on the same teams. Complementary education, health and leadership programmes are designed to foster acceptance through sport and to support people with intellectual disabilities in becoming active, contributing members of their communities.

The movement is run largely through a volunteer workforce of some 1 million coaches and volunteers, with a stated focus on inclusion, acceptance and community regardless of ability. Roles span the non-profit, sports and athletics, disability advocacy, and health and education sectors, and much of the work can be undertaken flexibly and from distributed locations across its global network.