Special Olympics Programs

The transformative power of sport

For 50 years, Special Olympics Canada has enriched the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability – of all ages and skill levels – through the transformative power of sport.

Thousands of volunteers, coaches and officials across the country provide high-quality programming and services to Special Olympics athletes from age two to 70-plus, at both the recreational/community and competitive level.

To register yourself or a family member as a new Special Olympics Athlete, you will need to fill out a registration form with the Chapter for the Province or Territory where you live. Below are a list of links to the registration page for each Chapter:

Learn more about the many programs offered by Special Olympics Canada:

Active Start:

Active Start provides lessons for young athletes to learn the basic motor skills, and provides parents/caregivers with educational information and resources that allows them to participate in similar activities in the home environment.

FUNdamentals:

FUNdamentals is a continuation of the Active Start program for athletes with an intellectual disability ages 7-12, that transitions from basic movement skills to basic sport and physical literacy skills while maintaining an atmosphere of fun and meaningful interaction.

Healthy Athletes®:

The Healthy Athletes initiative is dedicated to providing health services and education to Special Olympics athletes, and changing the way health systems interact with people with intellectual disabilities.

Unified Sport®:

Unified Sports integrates individuals with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) on teams for sport training and competition to promote social engagement and development.

Athlete Leadership:

Special Olympics Canada provides Athlete Leadership Programs, which equip athletes with the tools to undertake positions of leadership within their community and the broader movement.

For more information about how Special Olympics activities impact the lives of our athletes, please visit our program benefits page. View a collection of resources providing additional background on our programs.