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.

Stafford Tourism on Board as Basketball Championship Partner

Basketball season is officially underway as teams from across the state begin to prepare for this year's Basketball Championships on March 6-7. More than 800 athletes will qualify and make the trip to Stafford for the 2020 Basketball Championships.
1 Min Read

Athlete Profile - Hannah Ellenbecker

8 years ago, Lilly Ellenbecker was handed a flyer with information on different Special Olympics sports that might be of interest to her daughter, Hannah. Ultimately, Lilly chose roller skating and registered Hannah for the local team.
1 Min Read

Meet Joey Wheeler, A Magnet for Kindness

Send Joey and athletes like him to Fall Championships. Click here to learn how you can help. Joey Wheeler works a full-time job in a retirement community, walks dogs seven days a week, serves as an usher at two churches, paints, spreads the word about Special Olympics as a Global Messenger, and plays bocce and golf. He gives and gets from society and contributes to every environment he’s in.
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