Welcome to Special Olympics

Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with developmental disabilities. In order to officially compete in a competition, participants must be at least 8 years old, however children between the ages of 5 and 7 years of age can participate in training.  Our programs give our athletes continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skill, and friendship with their families, other athletes and the community.

The concept for Special Olympics was born in the early 1960s when Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a day camp for people with developmental disabilities at her home in Rockville, Maryland. The first International Special Olympics Games were held in 1968 at Soldier Field, Chicago with 1,000 athletes with developmental disabilities from 26 states and Canada.

Mrs. Shriver's vision has grown into one of the largest and most successful sports and volunteer organizations in the world. There are Chapters in every state of America and in more than 140 countries worldwide serving more than one-million Special Olympics athletes. Special Olympics Northern California

Special Olympics Northern California is proud to serve more than 13,000 individuals with developmental disabilities. From the Oregon border to Monterey and Tulare counties, our athletes have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of sports trainings and competitions that take place throughout the year. In order to prepare athletes for competition, they must attend a minimum of eight practices to insure they are prepared to compete.

Our Program Headquarters, located in Pleasant Hill oversees the staff in various regional offices in Northern California who are responsible for managing the local volunteer area programs.

FREE AND ALL YEAR LONG
There are training and competition opportunities year-round within Special Olympics Northern California. Our programs are free to all eligible athletes and are possible thanks to the generous support from individuals and businesses who believe in Special Olympics athletes. We are not a United Way agency. Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals, organizations, corporations, and foundations.

Who Gets To Play And Compete Individuals who are at least eight years old with developmental disabilities are eligible to participate in Special Olympics. The only requirement for participation is that an "Application for Participation in Special Olympics" form must be completed and signed by a physician. Athletes can continue to enjoy participating for as long as they wish. There is no age cap. Children ages five through seven can participate in training practices but cannot officially compete until they are eight years old. Click here for the Application for Participation in Special Olympics form. Return your completed form to Donna Romero, Special Olympics, 3480 Buskirk Ave., #340 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523.

Programs We OfferSPORTS TRAINING AND COMPETITION
Athletes can choose from 12 different sports that are offered throught the year. Athletes train for at least 8 practice sessions before they have the opportunity to compete in a local or regional competition.

UNIFIED SPORTS ®
Unified Sports® is a team experience that combines approximately equal numbers of athletes with and without developmental disabilities, of similar age and ability. Northern California currently offers Unified Sports in golf.

FOR ATHLETES WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES
Special Olympics believes that every athlete, no matter what their ability, can enjoy sports. Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) was created by physical therapists and adaptive PE teachers specifically for those athletes who have severe disabilities. MATP emphasizes training and participation rather than competition.