Special Olympics: North America

North America

North America has 544,581 athletes participating in all 30 sports offered by Special Olympics. It is home to athletes from Canada, the Caribbean and the United States. Special Olympics is dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition.

Stories Photos Videos Press

March 7 is the annual day to take the R-Word pledge.

Superstars from the NBA joined Special Olympics athletes on court.

See stories about Special Olympics activities in North America.

Sports has the power to change lives.

Program List

Spotlight on North America

Another Hole in One

Hitting a hole-in-one is nothing new for Special Olympics athlete Jason Wright from Springfield. Wright shot his first hole-in-one in June 2004 at the Wellington Country Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. LEARN MORE ››

Merging Sports and Health within the Movement

Athlete leaders have demanded that we look closely at where we as an organization may have set our own expectations for our athletes too low, and to raise them. LEARN MORE ››

Rosa's Law

A journey that began as one Maryland family’s battle for respect and acceptance for their daughter and sister, Rosa, became a significant milestone... LEARN MORE ››

Resources for Programs, Athletes, Coaches and Volunteers

Team USA

See highlights from the 2011 World Summer Games in Greece and get valuable information about the upcoming 2015 World Winter Games in South Korea.
LINK: Team USA Website

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Special Olympics Contact Information

Special Olympics North America
3712 Benson Drive, Suite 102
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
Office: (919) 785-0699
Fax: (919) 782-3311
Email: Lynn Idaszak
Manager, Internal Communications & Operations

The Calendar

"Events" is a top search term for SO.org. Add your own events.

Show Your Support

Coca-Cola has been a worldwide sponsor of Special Olympics for decades.
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Show Your Support

The Procter & Gamble Company has supported the movement for more than 28 years.
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Show Your Support

Mattel Corporation sponsors the Young Athletes program worldwide.
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Special Olympics Blog

Rise Up Revolutionaries!

And today, I watched this video by Stu Chaifetz about teachers and adults who bullied Akian, a ten year old with autism in Cherry Hill New Jersey. It is a tale of fear and rage, as heartbreaking as it is infuriating. It is a call to all of us to rise up again, to demand change in Cherry Hill, to ask for an accounting from those who were abusive. Our own young leaders in Special Olympics Project Unify will understand the horrors of this video perhaps better than anyone. In a special way, I ask their leadership now.read more »

Posted on 2012-04-26 by Tim

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