Special Olympics is transforming lives through sport
Not-for-profit organisation Special Olympics Great Britain (GB) is the largest provider of year-round sports training and athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities (also known as learning disabilities).
With a competition pathway designed to nurture and progress athletes from local competitions through to accessing elite level competitions, the focus at Special Olympics GB is on ability not disability, and providing opportunities for athletes to compete with others at similar levels both at home and abroad.
It operates across Scotland, England and Wales and currently has a network of 95 all-ability, inclusive sports accredited programmes and delivery partners.
And it offers 27 different sports from iceskating and skiing to football, boccia and judo.
All are delivered by an amazing team of over 3500 volunteers who support more than 6500 athletes in a safe and nurturing environment.
Special Olympics GB insists it is much more than just a sports organisation – it genuinely transforms lives.
Through sport, it provides opportunities for its athletes to make friends, learn social skills, feel part of a community, increase confidence and self-esteem, realise potential, develop physical fitness and mental well-being, demonstrate courage and experience joy and pride. And above all, the organisation encourages its athletes and their families to have fun.
Special Olympics GB is part of the global
Special Olympics International organisation – the largest disability sports organisation in the world.
As a global movement, Special Olympics reaches 5.7 million athletes across 200 countries. Together, they want to inspire real change by raising awareness of intellectual disability, ending discrimination, and building an inclusive world for all.
Representing their region at Special Olympics GB’s first National Winter Games in Folaria, Northern Italy, will be 73 athletes – including Jennifer and Megan.
Colin Dyer, chief executive of Special Olympics GB, said:“Competing in national and international events has proven to be transformational for many of our athletes, inspiring them to develop new life skills and make changes, which support their independence and career.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Special Olympics Grampian club for investing so much time in planning this event as the host club, and to Inclusive Skating for being our delivery partner on all figure skating events.
“Special thanks also go to our partners as their funding ensures that our athletes receive a world class sporting experience during this event.”
The competition will support the selection process for the subsequent Special Olympics World Winter Games, which take place in Torino, Italy, from March 8 to 16, 2025.
Here, eight alpine skiers and two figure skaters will represent Team Special Olympics GB for the first time in a Special Olympics World Winter Games since 2017.