The Special Olympics movement aims to achieve quality growth by creating innovative opportunities to bring the Special Olympics experience to more of the world's 190 million people with intellectual disabilities. At the same time, Special Olympics will work to create positive public attitudes toward a population that is often rejected or forgotten. Lillian Nyombe of Special Olympics Tanzania turns to keep an eye on Sunisa Promjan, of Special Olympics Thailand while Yasmine Elattrassi of Special Olympics Morocco strives for the finish line during their 200m race at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland. [Photo by Dara Mac Donaill, IRELAND OUT] Within the last five years Special Olympics has made great strides toward active worldwide growth in the number of athletes — between 2000 and 2005 participation in Special Olympics grew at a 129 percent rate with Special Olympics Programs reaching out to 1,270,760 new athletes. The quest is far from complete: the new Special Olympics 2006-2010 Strategic Plan calls for reaching 3 million athletes by the end of 2010, all the while maintaining the quality of the program. To read more about our growth goals as well as athlete demographic and participation data, click here. [PDF 859K] We will promote global athlete leadership and dedicate the movement to empowerment and dignity, not charity. We will change negative attitudes and misperceptions about people with intellectual disabilities, replacing stigma and rejection with an emphasis on potential, ability and acceptance. To get involved, please contact your local Special Olympics Program. To locate a Program near you, use our Program Locator.