With a strong Return to Sport plan in place, Special Olympics BC communities are safely reopening more of the in-person sport programs that mean so much to everyone involved.

Get involved as an athlete or volunteer

The pandemic has a long-lasting, far-reaching impact that the Special Olympics family will be working to overcome for many years. More than ever, we need your support to help rebuild the programs and the community that is critical for instilling confidence in our athletes, opening hearts and minds to inclusion, and breaking down barriers for your friends and neighbours with intellectual disabilities.

Please donate today.

Make a difference with Your donation

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on everyone, and especially so for people with intellectual disabilities. Too many people with intellectual disabilities are still being left behind and forgotten by our society. They knew the pain of loneliness long before COVID-19. For many Special Olympics BC athletes, our year-round sport, youth, and health programs are the primary place – or for too many, the only place – where they get vital social connections and healthy physical activity. 

The majority of Special Olympics BC’s in-person sport and youth programs have been paused since March 2020. During the pandemic, Special Olympics BC developed virtual programming that created new fitness and connection opportunities, such as the first-ever SOBC Provincial Challenge Games, and launched comprehensive Return to Sport protocols to help communities safely reopen some in-person programming. But those opportunities reached roughly a fifth of Special Olympics BC’s usual athlete base.

How your donation helps

Changing opportunities

Special Olympics BC offers 18 sports and youth programs to give athletes the chance to gain sport skills and improve their health while enjoying training that could take them to empowering competitions. 

Changing health

People with intellectual disabilities lack access to quality health care and experience dramatically higher rates of preventable disease, chronic pain, and premature death. Our ultimate goal is to create a world where all people have the same opportunity to be healthy by addressing a range of barriers, which include lack of access, education, and resources. 

Changing attitudes

Special Olympics is raising awareness about the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities. Through sports, we showcase the skills and dignity of our athletes. We also bring together communities to see and take part in the transformative power of sports.

Join our team on social media

You can make a difference for Special Olympics BC by joining our community on social media.