Find Special Olympics Near Me
Find your local region and help make our community a better, healthier, and more joyful place—one athlete, one volunteer, one family member at a time.
Our new online form makes it simple for current and new athletes to register each year.
Join hundreds at Dulles Airport on September 13 to test your strength and support Special Olympics Virginia athletes.
Promoviendo la inclusión y el deporte en Virginia para personas con discapacidades intelectuales.
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    About Us

    Special Olympics is a movement built on inclusion, where every person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability. We are helping make the world a better, healthier and more joyful place through the power of sport.
    • Our Mission Special Olympics Virginia’s mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for persons with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
    • Meet Our Team Our Richmond headquarters houses the majority of our staff, as well as our administrative functions. Seven regional offices located across the state are dedicated to supporting Special Olympics Virginia programs and volunteers within their community: Richmond, Lynchburg, Northern Virginia, Harrisonburg, Virginia Beach, Fredericksburg, Newport News, and Blacksburg.
    • Our Partners Active across the state, reaching more than 30,000 athletes and volunteers, Special Olympics is a movement that changes lives. The secret that many community leaders, CEOs and local celebrities who lend their support to Special Olympics know is that by helping to raise awareness and funds for the movement, they benefit, too.

      Want to join them? Fill out our Partner Inquiry Form and we will be in touch.
    • Law Enforcement Torch Run The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Virginia unites officers from law enforcement agencies and corrections departments across the state to raise more than a million dollars annually. Each summer, law enforcement officials carry the Flame of Hope across the state culminating with the Torch Run Final Leg and the lighting of the cauldron to officially open our Summer Games in Richmond.
    • Español

    Become An Athlete

    Special Olympics Virginia organizes and runs year-round athletic training and nearly 2,000 competitions each year for athletes of all ages at no cost to our participants. Whether your interest is competitive or social in nature, we want you on our team.

    Become a Volunteer

    Volunteers are the backbone of the Special Olympics movement. They bring out the champion in every Special Olympics athlete.

    Become a Coach

    Our coaches work closely with athletes and Unified partners to provide top-notch athletic instruction and serve as leaders, mentors, and role models.

Find Special Olympics Near You

Special Olympics Virginia is made up of 32 Area programs, organized into nine regions. Connect with your local program to get involved.

Make a Difference

Please donate and help us get one more athlete onto the playing field.
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In the News
In every corner of the state, Special Olympics Virginia is changing lives.

Summer Games Profile: Joe Salter

19-year-old Joe Salter isn’t actually 19 years old like he says he is. He’s also not the fastest runner in the world like he says he is. However, Joe Salter is exactly who he wants to be, all of the time. He’s unapologetically Joe and he’s proud of it.
1 Min Read

Kenmore Middle School Receives National Award from ESPN

It was a day that Kenmore Middle School in Arlington will never forget. Back in September, ESPN announced on the air, their Top 5 National Banner Schools. Kenmore received the honor as a result of having met national standards of excellence in the areas of inclusion, advocacy and respect. Kenmore was one of five schools to receive the distinction, being chosen specifically out of 131 other schools around the country. They were also the only middle school to receive the prestigious honor.
1 Min Read

Volunteer Profile | Sarah’s YBP Journey

Sarah’s journey with Special Olympics Virginia began in early 2016 when her employer, Virginia529, launched the ABLE savings program, ABLEnow. The ABLEnow program empowers people with disabilities to save money for today’s needs or invest for tomorrow in a simple, affordable and tax-advantaged account that won’t impact certain disability benefits.
2 Min Read
Our Reach

14,330

Athletes & Partners

160

Competitions

6,837

Volunteers

259

Athlete Leaders

9,107

Youth Leaders

628

Unified Schools
Special Thanks to Our Legend Sponsors