Draft an Athlete
Participate in the Draft an Athlete program and support Special Olympics athletes competing at the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games Medicine Hat 2026!
Your Donation will be Matched!
A generous donor has committed up to $60,000 in matching funds for Draft an Athlete.
The 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games will take place in Medicine Hat, Alberta from August 11-15, 2026. More than 1000 Special Olympics athletes from 12 provinces and territories will be competing in 10 sports – Swimming, Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Golf, Powerlifting, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball and 10-Pin Bowling. Athletes will be striving for personal bests and the podium. These Games are also a qualifier for the Special Olympics Team Canada, competing at the Special Olympics World Games 2027 in Santiago, Chile. Athletes are training hard to qualify for the Medicine Hat Games and to achieve their very best every day.
At Special Olympics Canada Games, the Special Olympics movement comes together to see athletes in action and celebrate their victories, over huge odds. No other event in the country has the social and emotional impact. For Special Olympics athletes and their families, this experience opens doors to unimagined possibilities. Your support of the Special Olympics Canada Draft an Athlete program provides Special Olympics athletes with the chance to shine, test their skills, forge new friendships and experience the thrill of competition.
Please help support the athletes’ journeys to Medicine Hat by drafting one or more athletes today! Your contribution also supports athletes in our daily community sports programs across Canada.
The cost of symbolically drafting an athlete and supporting one athlete’s dream of participating in the National Games is $1,500. Draft one, two or more athletes today! All individuals, organizations, and companies that pre-draft athletes will be recognized at the LIMITLESS Gala, taking place on November 21, 2025 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.
Supporters will also receive the following benefits:
- Charitable tax receipt for the full amount of your Draft an Athlete donation
- A photo and bio of the drafted athlete(s)
- Recognition on Special Olympics Canada’s website
- Updates on the Special Olympics Canada Games in advance and during the Games.
Thank you for your continued support of Special Olympics Athletes across Canada! We hope that you will accept this challenge and help us reach our 2025 goal of $300,000!