Latest News

Do You Know An Athlete Leader?

26 August 2010. If you know a Special Olympics athlete who has shown great leadership skills nominate them for our annual Dr John Day Award. Nominations are open now! Just click here for full details.

Official Team Australia Announced

18 July 2010 We’re delighted to announce the list of athletes and officials who will represent Australia at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens next year. In all, 130 Australian athletes and 40 officials will attend the Games and do Australia proud.

Footballers Bound For Timor-Leste

9 July 2010 Eight Special Olympics athletes will compete in an invitational football tournament in Timor-Leste.

Find a Program or Event

Find your state on the map or click a link

NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | TAS | ACT | NT

Introduction to Special Olympics

Click here to view online.

Transforming lives of people with intellectual disability

Special Olympics is the not-for-profit organisation that transforms the lives of people with an intellectual disability through regular sports participation and competition.

Despite some common misconceptions, Special Olympics is not one single event and it’s not just for elite athletes.

Instead, our volunteers provide sports opportunities for all people with an intellectual disability, regardless of their skill level, and they do this every week of the year in communities right across Australia. 

While some Special Olympics athletes strive to win medals, others enjoy the chance to get active, have fun, make friends and feel part of a family.

Whatever their motivation, we encourage all athletes to do their personal best and feel proud, because people with an intellectual disability can face many challenges in life.

They are often ridiculed, misunderstood, isolated or simply ignored.

Yet, with understanding and support they can show their talents and feel the pride of achievement.

People with an intellectual disability who participate in Special Olympics improve their fitness, develop greater self-confidence, and grow socially and spiritually.

Special Olympics is a place where they often discover new abilities, and find their voices as well.

So help us transform the lives of people with an intellectual disability.

Learn more about Special Olympics, be inspired by our athletes, help challenge people’s perceptions and, best of all, get involved.