About Special Olympics Canada

• Special Olympics Canada, a program within the worldwide movement, is dedicated to enriching the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability through sport.
• It is a national not-for-profit grassroots organization that provides sport training and competition opportunities for more than 32,000 athletes of all ages and abilities.
• More than 14,600 volunteers, including over 13,000 trained coaches, currently support Special Olympics programs every day in virtually every community nationwide.
• Special Olympics Canada Games are held every two years, alternating between summer and winter competitions with Special Olympics World Games being held in the year immediately following national competitions. The first national competition was held in Toronto, Ontario in 1969 and attracted some 1400 participants from across the country.
• Special Olympics Canada's programs are supported by corporate sponsorship, fundraising activities, government funding, individual donors and the involvement of volunteers in communities across the country.
• Special Olympics in Canada is structured into regional, provincial and national programs and competitions. Special Olympics athletes also have the opportunity to participate along with more than 180 other countries in Special Olympics World Games which alternate every two years between summer and winter compeitions.
• 75% of all funds raised for Special Olympics Canada remain in the provinces in which they are raised.

Official Special Olympics Canada Sports

Winter Sports

• Alpine Skiing
• Cross Country Skiing
• Curling
• Figure Skating
• Floor Hockey
• Snowshoeing
• Speed Skating

Summer Sports

• Aquatics
• Athletics (Track & Field)
• Bowling (5 & 10 Pin)
• Power-lifting
• Rhythmic Gymnastics
• Soccer
• Softball

Note that Special Olympics and the Paralympics are two separate and distinct organizations. Curious about the difference between the two? Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The principal differences between the two lie in the disability of participating athletes and levels of sports ability.

In addition, Special Olympics is the only organization that the International Olympic Committee has given permission to use the word "Olympics."