Special Olympics volunteers make a difference in China and 150 other nations around the world. Special Olympics volunteers come from all walks of life, all income brackets and all age groups. Although no experience is necessary, many bring specialized skills to their work. Others sign on to learn new things. The important point is this: with more than 2.5 million athletes worldwide — and a total of 190 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities who could benefit from participation in Special Olympics — there is plenty of need for whatever role you would like to play at the local, state/provincial, national or international level. Each Special Olympics Program has established processes for recruiting, screening and training volunteers. These processes vary somewhat depending on where the Program is located in the world. To learn more about volunteering or to offer your services, contact your local Special Olympics Program. To locate a Program near you, use our Program Locator.