The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Major Special Olympics competitions are held around the world each year to bring together athletes contending to be the best in their sports. In 2019, the United Arab Emirates hosted the first World Games in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi. The next World Games will be in Berlin, Germany in 2023.

Turin, Italy – 12 December – The countdown is on to the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 (Winter Games) which will be staged in Turin, Italy. National, regional, and municipal government leaders, the private sector, and Special Olympics athletes have all shared the same message to promote the Winter Games: “The future is ...

Host an Event Learn more about hosing an international Special Olympics event. Turin 2025 From March 8 – 15, 2025 over 1,500 athletes from 103 countries will compete in 8 disciplines in the name of sport, hospitality and inclusion.

Special Olympics helps children and adults with intellectual disabilities improve their fitness, learn sports skills, and experience the joy of winning through regular training and competition. It's a year-round program and athletes can train for many different sports.

Thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities—from all around the globe—are preparing to compete and set new personal bests at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. This will be the largest sports and humanitarian event on the planet—and the first World Winter Games in eight years!

Special Olympics anticipates opening the application cycle for the 2025 – 2026 Systems Change in Inclusive Health Subgrants in early 2025. Contact [email protected] for more information.

The President will host a dinner honoring Special Olympics athletes as they prepare to compete at the upcoming Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin in March 2025.

The Special Olympics World Games offer the opportunity to unite the world like no other event can. Here people with and without disabilities, people of different nations, cultures, political views and religions meet and can overcome existing prejudices with the power of sport.

As 2024 draws to a close, Special Olympics extends warm wishes and tremendous thanks to our outstanding athletes, coaches, volunteers, staff, and supporters from all over the world. This great movement would not be possible without each and every one of you.