Special Olympics North Carolina

Special Olympics NC provides year-round sports training and competition for nearly 45,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

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, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Special Olympics North Carolina held its first Games in 1970 with 400 participants and has since grown to be recognized globally as one of the largest Special Olympics programs in the world. Nearly 45,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities train and compete in year-round programs in 20 different sports.