Special Olympics athletes are individuals with a true passion for living life to the fullest, and achieving their potential in both in sport and life. Special Olympics athletes learn life lessons both on and off the field of play and have a blast competiting!

There are currently more than 1.7 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities who are training to compete in Special Olympics.

Special Olympics athletes have the opportunity to expand beyond competition, by participating in the Health Athletes program or the Athlete Leadership Programs, where athletes can train as coaches, officials or public speakers.

Best of all, Special Olympics is FREE to eligible people wishing to participate! The financial and in-kind support of sponsors and donors make it possible for Special Olympics athletes to never be charged a fee to compete!

Special Olympics Athlete Eligibility Guidelines

• Special Olympics training and competition is open to every person with an intellectual disability

• Special Olympics athletes must be eight years old to compete; alternative programming is available for ages 2-7.

• A person is considered to have an intellectual disability if that person satisfies any one of the following requirements.

• the person has been identified by an agency/professional as having an intellectual disability as determined by their localities.

• the person has a cognitive delay, as determined by the standardized measures such as intelligent quotient (IQ)

• the person has a closely related developmental disability meaning the person has functional limitations in both general learning and adaptive skills such as in recreation, work, independent living, self-discretion and self-care.

Persons whose functional limitations are based solely on a physical, behavioral, or emotional disability or specific learning or sensory disability are NOT elegible to participate in Special Olympics.

Special Olympics athletes must register to participate in Special Olympics as required by the Special Olympics official General Rules:

• Submission of a completed athlete registration form, which contains registration information, medical information and a medical certificate

• Submission of a completed athlete release form, which contains a release to be signed by an adult athlete or by the parent/guardian of a minor athlete concerning medical matters and permissions concerning publicity

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If applicable, a special release form for athletes or parents having religious objections to the provisions in the athlete release form concerning authorization for emergency medical treatment

If applicable, a special release form for athletes or parents concerning the potential risks of Atlanto-axial instability in athletes with Down syndrome