40 Big Ideas

Summary

In 1968, using sports to end discrimination against people with intellectual disability was a bold idea that would, over time, extend far beyond the playing field. Last year, nearly 4 million athletes competed in Special Olympics competitions around the world.

At its heart, Special Olympics offers opportunities for people with intellectual disability (ID) to train and compete in a wide range of sports. In 2024, Special Olympics engaged nearly 4 million athletes and held nearly 60,000 competitions in over 200 countries and territories. Every two years, Special Olympics World Games transcend the boundaries of geography, nationality, and culture. Alternating between summer and winter, and with thousands of athletes competing in more than 30 sports, the flagship competition shines a spotlight on Special Olympics athletes as they demonstrate the transformational power of sport to unify and inspire on and off the playing field. The most popular events are athletics (track & field), football (soccer), and basketball.

The impact of Special Olympics, however, extends far beyond the playing field. Participation builds confidence, teaches resilience, and provides moments of joy that ripple outward into schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Through Athlete Leadership programming, more than 51,000 athletes are taking on meaningful leadership roles worldwide, shaping the future of inclusion within their communities. Athletes often speak of how the program helps them discover their voice and sense of purpose, while their families gain networks of support and celebration that counter isolation.

Perhaps the most transformative element of the program is its commitment to inclusion. Through initiatives like Unified Sports, where athletes with and without ID play together on the same team, barriers are dismantled and friendships forged. These programs challenge misconceptions and create shared experiences that foster empathy and mutual respect. Unified activities, now present in more than 24,000 schools and communities across the globe, show young people that diversity is not a barrier to connection but rather a strength to be embraced.

The movement also drives systemic change. In many countries, Special Olympics has opened doors to greater health access, education, and employment opportunities for individuals with ID. Its global health programs address health inequities through prevention programming focused on health, fitness, and child development; Healthy Athletes® screenings that identify unmet health needs and connect athletes to follow-up care in their communities; training for the healthcare workforce to be more inclusive of people with ID and targeted partnerships to strengthen health systems around the world. By addressing disparities in healthcare and advocating for policy reforms, Special Olympics extends its mission of inclusion to the very structures that shape daily life.

Special Olympics was founded in 1968 with a simple but powerful mission: to end discrimination against people with ID through sports. More than five decades later, that mission has grown into a worldwide movement that is changing hearts, minds, and systems, one competition, one school, and one team at a time. Through the unifying power of sport, Special Olympics creates communities where people of all abilities are respected, valued, and everyone belongs.

Learn more about the Special Olympics .