Special Olympics athletes are the heart of our organization. Through our programs, athletes enjoy a lifetime of active participation in sports, as well as an opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills, build confidence, and discover their independence. All over the world, Special Olympics athletes embody the Olympic ideal: sports competition not for personal gain or glory but for the sheer joy of taking part.
The family and friends of Special Olympics athletes are part of a global network that reaches far beyond the playing field. In Special Olympics, they find a support system of others with similar concerns, questions, and life experiences; help finding medical and community resources; and a place of belonging, celebration, and lifelong friendship.
Special Olympics Rhode Island offers over 1,400 sports training and competition opportunities in 25 Olympic-type sports to over 2,700 individuals with intellectual disabilities.