About Special Olympics

What is Special Olympics?

Special Olympics is an international year-round program of sports training, education, and athletic competition for more than one million children and adults with mental retardation.

Our Mission

The mission of Blair Special Olympics is to provide year round participation in sports training and athletic competition in a variety of well-coached Olympic-type sports for all individuals with mental challenges by providing athletes with continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness skills, express courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of talents, skills and friendship with their families, friends, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Our Philosophy

Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with mental challenges can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in individual and team sports, adapted as necessary to meet the needs of those with special mental and physical challenges.

Special Olympics believes that consistent training is indispensable to the development of sports skills and that competition among those with equal abilities is the most appropriate means of testing these skills, measuring progress and providing incentive for personal growth.

Special Olympics believes that through sports training and competition, people with mental challenges benefit physically, mentally, socially and spiritually; families are strengthened; and the community at large, both through participation and observation, is united in understanding of people with mental challenges in an environment of equality, respect and acceptance