Abu Dhabi 2019

For Women’s History Month, we are proud to support all the amazing women in the Special Olympics movement, including our athletes, volunteers, coaches, leadership, staff and everyone who makes Special Olympics possible across the globe.

“These kids we label ‘special’, are truly born to do special things in their lives!”

"Nobody judges me or my disability. It's where I feel happy and can be myself."

Artistic gymnast Li Xiang of China has been competing at Special Olympics World Games since he was 11 years old.

On the surface, cycling may seem like an individual sport, but it takes a team to get competitors across the finish line.

Khadija Sy, the silver medal-winning 200m sprinter from the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, is back in action. This time, she's at the 2023 World Games in Berlin, Germany—as accredited media for the Games!

In China, people with intellectual disabilities can face stigma from the moment of diagnosis.

Jessy Lane is a dedicated, diligent athlete who doesn't give up easily. That's also how she lost 100 pounds: through steady & consistent training.

Ablaye Ndiaye is one of the stars of his neighborhood in Senegal’s capital, Dakar. Yet, years ago, he was mostly an outcast due to negative beliefs and stereotypes about people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics is all about bringing out the best in everyone. Special Olympics Unified Sports, which brings together people with and without intellectual disabilities, takes this transformation to another level. Now, meet a Unified Basketball team from Florida, USA that’s taking the power of “playing unified” to the global level at the 2023 World Games in Berlin.