2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games set to be hosted in Prince George

Prince George representatives with SOBC athlete and Jan Antons holding up SOBC banner — City of Prince George staff and SOBC – Prince George coach Peter & athlete Adrian received the SOBC flag from 2023 SOBC Games Chair Jan Antons!

The 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games will be held in the City of Prince George, marking the third time the community has hosted Provincial Games for B.C. and Yukon athletes with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics BC President & CEO Dan Howe made the 2025 hosting announcement at the Closing Ceremony of the 2023 SOBC Winter Games held in Kamloops.

The 2025 SOBC Summer Games will feature approximately 1,100 athletes with intellectual disabilities competing with pride in the 10 SOBC summer sports: 10-pin bowling, basketball, bocce, golf, rhythmic gymnastics, powerlifting, soccer, softball, swimming, and track and field. The athletes will compete as part of Regional teams supported by approximately 300 volunteer coaches and mission staff from their home communities.

These will be Special Olympics BC’s first Provincial Summer Games since 2017, because the pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2021 SOBC Summer Games.

“Prince George was an outstanding host for the 1991 SOBC Winter Games and the 2001 SOBC Summer Games. We’re thrilled to bring back our Provincial Summer Games in this welcoming community that is well known for hosting high-quality sport events and for being the home of the strong year-round Special Olympics BC – Prince George programs,” Special Olympics BC President & CEO Dan Howe said.

“We’re delighted to welcome Special Olympics BC and athletes back to Prince George for the third time,” said Mayor Simon Yu. “It’s great to see our city is on its way to becoming a well-established destination for high-level sporting competitions.”

Provincial Games are joyful and meaningful experiences for Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities. They compete with pride, build lifelong friendships, and open hearts and minds to their abilities.

At the 2025 SOBC Games, competitors will pursue personal-best Provincial Games performances, and will try to advance to national and international levels of competition. The 2025 SOBC Summer Games will be the B.C. and Yukon qualifier for the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, which in turn will be the national qualifier for the 2027 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Special Olympics BC – Prince George athletes competed with pride at the 2023 SOBC Winter Games in Kamloops – please click here for results, photos, and more. SOBC – Prince George athlete Matthew Brewer said being back at Provincial Games felt “exciting. My training’s paying off. I go to Club Fit every Friday, and will keep doing that when I get back. It feels awesome, fantastic.”

In spring and summer 2024, Special Olympics BC athletes around the province will compete in Regional Qualifier competitions in order to earn spots in the 2025 SOBC Summer Games.

More than 1,000 volunteers and sponsor support will be needed to help stage the 2025 SOBC Summer Games. SOBC Games volunteer registration details, Games venues, and more will be announced in the months to come. Year-round Special Olympics BC programs continue in 55 communities around the province and always welcome new members to help change lives through sport!