Revealing the Champion In All of Us
Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competition opportunities for close to 10,000 athletes (individuals with intellectual disabilities) and Special Olympics Unified Sports® partners (individuals without intellectual disabilities who are the athletes’ teammates). Special Olympics is about inspiring inclusion for people of all abilities through sport and revealing the champion in all of us.
Our Champions
There are opportunities for everyone to be part of Special Olympics Connecticut and enjoy a meaningful and rewarding experience — as an athlete, Unified Sports partner, coach, volunteer, supporter or fan. Take a look at the champions of Special Olympics Connecticut by the numbers.
6,438
Athletes
9,875
Participants
1,395
Coaches
3,437
Unified Sports Partners
5,000
Volunteers
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics in 1968 with the passionate conviction that people with intellectual disabilities of all ages could participate in and benefit from competitive sports. Shriver believed that, through sports, these individuals could experience how liberating it is to train and to learn, to realize their potential and to be a winner.
She was confident that the lessons learned through sports would translate into new competence and success in school, in the workplace and in the community. Above all, she wanted the families and neighbors of people with intellectual disabilities to see what these athletes could accomplish and to celebrate their victories.
Have Questions About Special Olympics?
Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.