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Special Olympics offers training and competition opportunities in 30 Olympic-type sports for athletes 8 years or older.  For children with intellectual disabilities ages 2 through 7, Special Olympics provides a Young Athletes Program. Special Olympics coaches have a unique opportunity to work with athletes in competitive situations to assist in their training for life. As a grass-roots organization, Special Olympics relies on volunteers at all levels of the movement to ensure that every athlete is offered a quality sports training and competition experience. Individual donors, corporate partners and many others make it possible for Special Olympics to offer children and adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy through participation in the program.
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How to Register
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Athlete Registration

Rebecca Everard of Special Olympics New Zealand finishing the 100 meter butterfly
Rebecca Everard of Special Olympics New Zealand exults in her 100 meter butterfly finish at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. [Photo by Brenda Fitzsimons, IRELAND OUT]

Registering for Special Olympics — the world's largest program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities — is a simple process. All individuals who meet Special Olympics eligibility requirements and wish to participate must register with an accredited Program. Registration includes:

  • Submission of an Athlete Registration Form, which contains registration information, medical information and a medical certification; and
  • Submission of an Athlete Release Form, which contains a release to be signed by an adult athlete or by the parent/guardian of a minor athlete concerning medical matters and publicity permissions.

Although every Special Olympics registration process involves the same basic requirements outlined above, each Special Olympics Program has its own athlete registration form. Use our Program Locator to locate the Special Olympics Program nearest you, then contact them directly to receive athlete registration materials.

Unified Sports Registration

Special Olympics Unified Sports® is a program that combines approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (called Partners) on sports teams for training and competition. Age and ability matching of athletes and Partners is defined on a sport-by-sport basis.

To participate as a Unified Sports Partner, contact your local Special Olympics Program and request an application and release form. To find a Program near you, use our Program Locator.

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