About Us
Special Olympics is dedicated to providing free sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people eight years of age and older with developmental disabilities. We exist to give our athletes year-round opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience job and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families other athletes and the community.
Meet our 2010 Celebrity Winterfest Featured Athletes
Our History and Our Athletes
The concept for Special Olympics was born in the early 1960s when Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a day camp for people with developmental disabilities at her home in Rockville, Maryland. The first International Special Olympics Games were held in 1968 at Soldier Field, Chicago with 1,000 athletes with developmental disabilities from 26 states and Canada.
Mrs. Shriver's vision has grown into one of the largest and most successful sports and volunteer organizations in the world. There are Chapters in every state of America and in more than 180 countries worldwide serving more than 2.25 million Special Olympics athletes. Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada was incorporated in 1995 and currently serves more than 17,000 athletes throughout the areas. Anyone may participate in Special Olympics if they meet the eligibility criteria of having an intellectual disability or a similar developmental disability. Activities exist for those of all ability levels, from the highly functioning to the severely challenged.
There are currently 47 Northern California counties and 11 Nevada counties with active Special Olympics programs. Each County Program is accredited by Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada and is responsible for conducting sports training and competition, administrative functions and fundraising on an on-going basis.
Free And All Year Long
There are training and competition opportunities year-round within Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada. Our programs are free to all eligible athletes and are possible thanks to the generous support from individuals and businesses who believe in Special Olympics athletes. We are not a United Way agency. Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals, organizations, corporations, and foundations.
Who gets to play and compete
Individuals who are at least eight years old with developmental disabilities are eligible to participate in Special Olympics. The only requirement for participation is that an "Application for Participation in Special Olympics" form must be completed and signed by a physician. Athletes can continue to enjoy participating for as long as they wish. There is no age cap. Children ages five through seven can participate in training practices but cannot officially compete until they are eight years old.
Click here for information about our program in Northern California. Click here for information about our program in Nevada. f
Mrs. Shriver's vision has grown into one of the largest and most successful sports and volunteer organizations in the world. There are Chapters in every state of America and in more than 180 countries worldwide serving more than 2.25 million Special Olympics athletes. Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada was incorporated in 1995 and currently serves more than 17,000 athletes throughout the areas. Anyone may participate in Special Olympics if they meet the eligibility criteria of having an intellectual disability or a similar developmental disability. Activities exist for those of all ability levels, from the highly functioning to the severely challenged.
There are currently 47 Northern California counties and 11 Nevada counties with active Special Olympics programs. Each County Program is accredited by Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada and is responsible for conducting sports training and competition, administrative functions and fundraising on an on-going basis.
Free And All Year Long
There are training and competition opportunities year-round within Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada. Our programs are free to all eligible athletes and are possible thanks to the generous support from individuals and businesses who believe in Special Olympics athletes. We are not a United Way agency. Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals, organizations, corporations, and foundations.
Who gets to play and compete
Individuals who are at least eight years old with developmental disabilities are eligible to participate in Special Olympics. The only requirement for participation is that an "Application for Participation in Special Olympics" form must be completed and signed by a physician. Athletes can continue to enjoy participating for as long as they wish. There is no age cap. Children ages five through seven can participate in training practices but cannot officially compete until they are eight years old.
Click here for information about our program in Northern California. Click here for information about our program in Nevada. f