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About Us

 

Our Mission


The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type 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. 

Our Movement

Special Olympics North Carolina is one of the largest Special Olympics programs in the world with more than 38,000 registered athletes who train and compete in year-round programs in 19 different sports.  

A voluntary Board of Directors serves as the governing body for Special Olympics North Carolina and employs a President/CEO responsible for carrying out programs and activities.  Twenty-four staff members based in five statewide offices work closely with volunteers to provide Special Olympics programs for people with intellectual disabilities. 

These programs are organized by approximately 100 sub-accredited local programs throughout the state, and the involvement of some 20,000 volunteers makes possible nearly 8,000 sport practices and 400 competition events at local, area, state, regional, and national levels each year.  Find out here what is happening in your community and how you can get involved

Special Olympics North Carolina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating under Federal Tax ID 56-1149607.  Athletes in North Carolina are never charged a fee of any kind to participate in Special Olympics. Generous support from individuals, businesses, foundations, and civic groups helps fund the training facilities, uniforms, awards, equipment, transportation, and coaches’ education that are important to every athlete’s experiences.  Support Special Olympics North Carolina today, and give the power of sport to one more athlete. 

 

 

 Special Olympics North Carolina Calendar

 

Special Olympics, Inc General Rules

Special Olympics North Carolina Operating Policies


2010 SONC Year End Review

Special Olympics Fact Sheets

Privacy Statement

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Our History

Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics with a vision that individuals with intellectual disabilities were far more capable in sports and physical activity than many experts believed possible. In 1968 Mrs. Shriver organized the first Special Olympics International Games in Chicago, Ill. Six athletes from North Carolina were among the participants.

Special Olympics North Carolina held its first Games in 1970 with 400 participants and has since grown to be recognized globally as one of the largest Special Olympics programs in the world.  More than 38,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities participate in Special Olympics North Carolina.