Special Olympics Illinois

Special Olympics Illinois provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, at no cost to the athlete or their families. Athletes are given continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness and athletic skill, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. In Illinois, over 22,000 athletes train and compete year round, in 19 different team and individual sports of their choice. Special Olympics Illinois is a certified 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization funded solely through the generosity of individuals, corporations, foundations and civic groups. This support allows Special Olympics to never charge the athlete or their families a fee for participation. Founded by the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics is the world’s largest program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, serving 4.5 million people in more than 170 countries.