Special Olympics Africa > Official Sports

Special Olympics offers 30 Olympic-type individual and team sports that provide meaningful training and competition opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities, including age-appropriate activities and activities for lower ability athletes. For persons with severe limitations who do not yet possess the physical and/or behavioral skills necessary to participate in these sports, Special Olympics also offers the Motor Activities Training Program (MATP).

Participation in Special Olympics' year-round sports training and athletic competition is open to anyone with intellectual disabilities ages 8 and older. For children with intellectual disabilities ages 2 through 7, see the Special Olympics Families section of this Web site for information on the Young Athletes™ program. Programs are designed to serve all ability levels, and there is no charge to participate.

Special Olympics Unified Sports® brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to train and compete together. Unified Sports includes virtually all Special Olympics sports, and Unified Sports competitions are an important part of Special Olympics World Games, as well as local, state/provincial and National Games.

* Official, Recognized or Locally Popular Sports are those that Special Olympics authorizes for inclusion in training and competition programs after determining that the sport will enhance the year-round aspect of sports training and competition fundamental to Special Olympics, and provides meaningful opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities, including age-appropriate activities, activities for lower ability athletes, etc