To be eligible to participate in Special Olympics, athletes must be at least 8 years old and identified by an agency or professional as having one of the following conditions:
- intellectual disability
- cognitive delay as determined by standardized measures such as intelligence quotient (IQ) or other accepted measures
- closely related developmental disability
Children between the ages of 2 and 7 can participate in our Young Athlete Program. Anyone, 8 years and older, can participate as a Unified partner, regardless of ability.
What is an Intellectual Disability?
Intellectual disability (or ID) is a term used to describe a disability characterized by certain limitations in cognitive functioning and skills. These limitations can affect an individual’s communication, social and self-care skills and can vary widely from person to person. Intellectual disability is the most common developmental disability.
Getting Started
Once you or your athlete are determined eligible to participate, take the next steps to officially