Special Olympics New York

Logo for Special Olympics New York

Revealing the champion in all of us.

Date Founded

1970

Industry

Sports

Type

Nonprofit

Mission

To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Services Provided

Special Olympics New York provides inclusive opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to compete in Olympic-style, coached sports to stay active for life, achieve goals, taste victory and overcome defeat.

At its core, Special Olympics New York is a competitive sports organization. It unlocks the joy of sport to inspire people to open their minds to human giftedness and to accept, include and value people with intellectual disabilities in all aspects of life. Today, Special Olympics New York is more than just an event: it is a part of one of the world’s most powerful movements – forever changing the way individuals with intellectual disabilities are perceived and treated.

Special Olympics New York offers 22 sports across the state with core values in sportsmanship, leadership, unity, perseverance and bravery.

Special Olympics New York is building communities and in addition to its sports programs, by offering:

Unified Sports

Special Olympics New York is dedicated to promoting inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. There is a dynamic collaboration between Special Olympics New York and its local school communities that engages young people with and without intellectual disabilities to be truly integrated – playing side-by-side on the same team – promoting attitudes and behaviors of acceptance and inclusion.

Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.

Healthy Athletes

The world’s largest public health program for people with intellectual disabilities – a population that faces dramatically greater health issues than others, yet frequently receives inadequate or no care at all. At events, volunteer healthcare professionals provide athletes with free screenings and services in 7 clinical areas.

Young Athletes

Introduces young people with intellectual disabilities ages 2-7 to the work of Special Olympics by engaging them in active play. The goal is to see increased social and motor skills, adaptive behavior (self care, community, self-sufficiency), communication and cognitive development.

Athlete Leadership

Allows athletes to explore opportunities for greater participation as coaches, officials, team captains, spokespeople and Board and committee members. These athletes help shape Special Olympics New York and spread the word about the effect of sports on individuals and families. By taking part in presentation training, they build the capability to represent Special Olympics New York and their fellow athletes to the general public. Some athletes become involved in setting policies and programming that reflect the needs and desires of themselves and their peers.

Please visit www.specialolympicsny.org to learn more.

How Many People Reached

Special Olympics New York serves more than 68,000 athletes across the state in more than 6,500 competitive experiences a year - an average of 18 per day. In addition, statewide, Special Olympics New York partners with more than 220 Unified Champion Schools and nearly 10,000 participating students.

How Donations Are Used

The athletes of Special Olympics New York and their families and/or caregivers are never charged to participate in our programs so all donations are used to get our athletes in the game. Funds are earmarked for training facilities, sports equipment, uniforms, food/water, overnight travel accommodations where necessary and transportation.

Project Spotlight

Special Olympics New York is proud to offer a Sports Season that takes into account the varying needs of athletes and coaches while also prioritizing the health and safety of its community as New York State continues to navigate the impact of COVID-19. The return to play ensures an opportunity for every athlete to get back in the game, either by training in-person or at-home.

As the state continues to take steps to reopen safely, Special Olympics New York has developed a Return to Activities plan. The most important priority reflected throughout this plan is the health and safety of all of our participants: athletes, Unified partners, coaches, volunteers, family members, caregivers and staff. The plan prioritizes the health and safety of our community, while also ensuring an opportunity for every Special Olympics New York athlete to get back in the game for a Sports Season, whether in-person or at home.

Whether the athletes participate in-person or at home, Special Olympics New York has an activity just for them! Athletes will work with their coaches to determine the best sports and training options. Participants in the in-person activities can also join in on the fun of the at-home activities as well. And once the season wraps up, Special Olympics New York will host a virtual celebration honoring all the athletes and their accomplishments for this Sports Season!

Interesting Facts

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Special Olympics New York is the largest state chapter in the country, serving more than 68,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings.

Where To Donate

Donate here.

Contact

94 New Karner Road
Suite 208
Albany, NY 12203 
(518) 388-0790
talktous@nyso.org

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