Athletic training and competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities is in our DNA. While Unified Sports is on the rise, we are still here for Special Olympics Athletes who want to compete in the traditional sports model, built specifically for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
With high-quality coaching, training, and competitions, Special Olympics sports offer a lifetime of activity and social engagement for the disability community. Show the world what you have in team and individual sports from athletics to volleyball!
Athletes Competing in Traditional Special Olympics Sports
Sports Available
Sports Seasons
Traditional Sports Competitions Annually
JoJo Calkins is a determined 4-year-old who never lets obstacles slow her down. From adaptive sports to therapy, she’s unstoppable! Now, her family is running the 2025 Boston 5K to support Special Olympics athletes like her.
Sydney Brooks has overcome childhood surgeries to excel in basketball, bowling, and flag football. Now, she dreams of becoming a public speaker to advocate for disability rights and spread awareness.
Conrad will be running the 2025 Boston Marathon in support of Special Olympics MA in hopes to not only fundraise money for the organization, but to inspire other athletes. Here is his story and what is motivating him to run 26.2 miles.
Couldn’t find what you were looking for? write to us at Ops@SpecialOlympicsMA.org
Traditional Special Olympics sports are designed specifically for athletes with intellectual disabilities to compete with and against each other. This was the original model designed by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and put in place starting in 1968. Many parents find this is a great model for their athletes’ first special Olympics experience. They feel safe and comfortable knowing that all teammates have a level of shared experience.
We offer 24 sports and all of them are available in our traditional model. So, whether you want to play on a team, or as an individual, in a super active sport or something more recreational in nature, we have you covered!
YES! We offer local, regional, state, national and international competitions for athletes competing in Special Olympics sports. While Unified Sports is on the rise, Special Olympics continues to support and grow our traditional sports programming. We understand that some athletes prefer to compete with peers who also have intellectual disabilities and we want them to have the same opportunities as those who choose Unified Sports.