Special Olympics Athletes at Canada Games

While they are separate from the Special Olympics Canada Summer or Winter Games, Special Olympics athletes have proudly competed in select events at the Canada Games since 2001. Inclusion in this national multi-sport event is an opportunity available to a few athletes in the Sport Excellence stream of the Special Olympics athlete pathway.

The Canada Games brings together able-bodied athletes and athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities for the largest amateur multi-sport event in the country. Alternating between winter and summer, they span over 30 different sports to showcase the very best in Canadian sport and spirit.

At the Canada Games, Special Olympics athletes compete in open events. Unlike traditional Special Olympics competitions, which use a process called divisioning to group athletes by similar ability, events at the Canada Games are not organized this way—adding a new level of challenge and experience.

Every athlete representing Special Olympics at a Canada Games has earned their place through performance-based qualification. The presence of Special Olympics athletes at Canada Games is a powerful reminder of what sport can be: inclusive, transformational, and deeply inspiring.

2025 Canada Summer Games

Keegan Waite proudly represented PEI at the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. As a member of Team PEI Athletics, Keegan competed in the 100m and 200m events.