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.
Donation Amount
In the News
In every corner of the state, Special Olympics Virginia is changing lives.

Thank You - A Letter from a World Champion

Joey Roney arrived back to Virginia wearing a silver medal proudly from his performance in the 100m freestyle. In his first ever World Games, Joey had a great time learning about people from different countries. Feeling grateful for his experience, Joey penned a letter to Special Olympics Virginia President Rick Jeffrey.
2 Min Read

‘Magnificent 7’ Back From World Games

Congratulations to all seven athletes on earning a medal at the Special Olympics World Games, held March 14-25 in Abu Dhabi Seven local Special Olympics athletes have proudly returned home from Abu Dhabi with an impressive amount of hardware to show off and even more memories to share.
2 Min Read

World Games 2019: Meet Team Virginia

Special Olympics USA is proud to announce that it will send a 313-member delegation to represent the United States at the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, being held March 14-21, 2019, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
1 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