Join Team Canada at the World Games

The World Games are flagship events for the Special Olympics movement. They take place every two years and alternate between summer and winter Games. The Games can be the world's largest sporting event of the year. Thousands of athletes, coaches, volunteers and supporters attend to see and cheer the skills and accomplishments of people with an intellectual disability.

The World Games feature more than a week of grueling, yet inspiring, competition among thousands of athletes from all over the world. Through media coverage of the Games, the stories and achievement of our athletes are seen by millions of people worldwide. Learn more by visit Special Olympics Canada's Team Canada Page. 

The National Team Program (NTP) was developed by Special Olympics Canada to better equip our athletes, coaches and mission staff attending World Games. The NTP is designed to provide athletes, coaches and mission staff with a formalized approach to training and preparation for World Games. The program ensures that Special Olympics athletes in Canada have access to quality training, coaching and competitive opportunities to ensure optimal performance and a positive experience as a member of the National Team.

Upcoming Special Olympics World Games

 2029  World Winter Games in Switzerland (website)

2027  World Summer Games in Santiago, Chile (website)

History of Special Olympics PEI Members Selected to Special Olympics Canada's Team 

2025  World Winter Games in torino, Italy (website)

• Charity Sheehan (Chef de Mission)
• Genna Phelan (Mission Staff - Speed Skating)
• Callum McEwan (Figure Skating)
       Training Coach: Cindy Stavert
• Ellen MacNearney (Cross Country Skiing)
       Training Coach: Kathleen MacNearney
• Tommy Ling (Cross Country Skiing)
       Training Coach: Kathleen MacNearney

Official announcement on Special Olympics Team Canada 2025

Official SO Team Canada Chef de Mission announcment

2023  World Summer Games in Berlin, Germany (website)

• Alyssa Chapman (Soccer)
       Training Coach: Kieran Goodwin
• Jeremy Wall (Athletics)
       Training Coach: Jodi Harper
• Keegan Waite (Basketball)
       Training Coach: Allan Gillis 

Official announcement on Special Olympics Team Canada 2023

2022  SPecial Olympics Team Canada training squad (Team site)

• Christi-Joe Synders-Couchman (Snowshoeing)
       Training Coach: Donna Campbell
• Jordan Koughan (Speed Skating)
       Training Coach: Larry Robbins
• Charity Sheehan (Chef de Mission)
• Craig Watson (Mission Staff - Snowshoe)

Official statement on Special Olympics Team Canada 2022

2019  World Summer Games in Abu Dahbi, UAE (WEBsite)

• Roy Paynter (Swimming)
       Training Coach: Sarah Paynter

2017  World winter Games in Austria

• Alyssa Chapman (Figure Skating)
       Training Coach: Jessica Godfrey
• Janet Charchuk (Snowshoe)
       Training Coach: Donna Campbell

2015 World Summer Games in Los Angeles, USA

• Jenna Smith (10-Pin Bowling)
       Training Coach: Ann Kilby
• John Paynter (Athletics) 
       Training Coach: Jodi Harper
• Charity Sheehan (Mission Staff - Athletics)

2013 World Winter Games in Pyeongchang, south Korea

• Alyssa Chapman (Figure Skating)
       Training Coach: Kim Duffy
• Ellen MacNearney (Cross Country Skiing)
       Training Coach: Carey Arsenault
• Charity Sheehan (Mission Staff - Snowshoe)

2011 World Summer Games in Athens, greece

• Team PEI Jays (Softball) Athletes:

    Glendon Arsenault
    Chris MacPherson
    Greg St. John
    Tommy MacGuigan
    Cedric Gallant
    Marc McKearnery
    Jerred Affleck
    Mark Ramsay
    Travis Perry
    Aaron Myers
    Brian McNab
    Blair Burns
    John Anthony Laybolt
                                                                                 Shawn Mitchell

                                                                                 Coaches:
                                                                                 Richard Douillette (Head Coach)
                                                                                 Judy Gallant (Assistant Coach)
                                                                                 Lew Champion (Assistant Coach)

2009 World Winter Games in Boise, USA

• Michael Morris (Cross Country Skiing)
        Training Coach: Richard Doulliette

2005 World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan

• Michael Morris (Cross Country Skiing) 
        Training Coach: Charlie Campbell
• Rose MacDonald (Cross Country Skiing)
        Training Coach: Charlie Campbell
• Charity Sheehan (Mission Staff - Snowshoe)

2003 World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland

• Suzie Smith (Swimming)
       Training Coach: Sarah Paytner

2001 World Winter Games in Anchorage, USA

• Shirley Boute (Snowshoe)
       Training Coach: Shelly Gaudet

1999 World Summer Games in North Carolina, USA

• Suzie Smith (Swimming)

1997 World Winter Games in Collingwood, Canada

• Marc McKearney (Speed Skating)

1995 World Summer Games in New Haven, USA

• Jamie Trowsdale (Swimming)

1993 World Winter Games in Austria

•  Marc McKearney (Speed Skating)

1987 World Summer Games in Indiana, USA

• Scott Andrews (Speed Skating)