Confidence, skill and determination are common benefits of involvement with sports. Special Olympics Arizona offers 22 Olympic-type individual and team sports which provide meaningful training and competition opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities, including age-appropriate activities and activities for lower ability athletes. Athletes can compete at a variety of levels that accommodate a diverse range of abilities. In addition, athletes can choose to compete within the Special Olympics Unified Sports® program, which brings together athletes with and without disabilities of similar age and athletic ability to train and compete on the same sports teams.
The lessons learned in Special Olympics also impact life skills. Sports training enhances focus and gives participants a structure for learning important lessons about perseverance, endurance and setting goals. Many people are surprised to know that more than half (52%) of adult Special Olympics athletes in the United States are employed, versus 10 percent of intellectually disabled persons who do not participate in Special Olympics.
Special Olympics Arizona offers the following sports. Click on any sport for a brief description and applicable rules.
