Community Impact

On February 1st, 2026, about fifteen athletes from Special Olympics Connecticut - North Haven walked into Choate Rosemary Hall’s Larry Hart Pool, and about thirty Choate students were already in the lobby waiting for them. We warmed up first, and then we paired each Special Olympics athlete with a Choate swimmer. People swam a few easy laps, learned each other's names, and showed off their favorite “cellys” (celebrations done after winning a race). Then we ran relays, and nobody won them. Everyone got a medal, which was the only result any of us wanted. Afterward, everyone walked across campus to the dining hall and ate a meal at the same tables, and to this day I still remember the feeling in the air as the best there ever was.

The co-creation process for the official mascot of the Santiago 2027 Special Olympics World Games has kicked off.

The inaugural conference called for action on health equity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In the lead up to the Cup, Special Olympics Thailand and its partners utilized Sport for Development practices, as part of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, using sport as a catalyst for social inclusion, education, health, and community development.

Unified with Refugees initiative equips teachers, coaches and volunteers with the skills to expand Unified Sports opportunities for refugees and host communities, creating a stronger foundation for sustainable inclusion through sport.

September is Healthy Aging Month, a time to promote healthy habits and encourage adults to take positive steps toward their health as they grow older.

How Special Olympics, Lions Club International Foundation, and World Food Program USA United for the Tegwyn Special Unit

Behind every Special Olympics athlete who steps into the pool, onto the court, or up to the starting line, there's a coach who knows the sport and knows how to bring out the best in their athlete.

With support from Optometry Giving Sight, three trainees from Special Olympics Nevada, Tennessee, and Florida completed a Clinical Director Train-the-Trainer program at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games from 18-20 June in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Millions of people with intellectual disabilities still face disparities and a lack of quality education, health, and access to sport experiences every day.

Special Olympics Kenya officially launches Unified with Refugees program at Decathlon Store and announces powerful new partnership with the Decathlon Foundation in Nairobi on the eve of World Refugee Day.

At the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026, Special Olympics coaches spent most of their time plotting against one another’s teams.