The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year round sport training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympics-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them the opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community.
Find out more: Special Olympics of North Carolina
Eligibility
Persons who are eight and above who are considered to have intellectual disabilities as determined by their localities. If the person is identified as having a developmental disability with functional limitations in both general learning and adaptive skills, it must still be determined by an agency or a professional whether or not the functional limitations are solely due to intellectual disabilities or a closely related developmental disability.
Philosophy
Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with intellectual disabilities can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy, and benefit from participation in individual and team sports.