About Us
Special Olympics Great Britain is offers people with a learning disability, opportunities through year-round sports training and competition to not only help them gain confidence, grow in stature and develop self-esteem but, be given the chance to participate to his or her fullest potential. Special Olympics sports programmes raise awareness of disability and seek to promote the abilities of a person rather than their disability.
Special Olympics was founded in 1968 by Eunice Shriver Kennedy, sister of US President John F Kennedy.
As of January 1, 2006, Special Olympics has 2,256,733 athletes strong worldwide, each delivering a message of skill, hope, and acceptance for all. 550,000 in China; 425,000 in Europe/Eurasia; 210,854 in India; 548,000 in North America; more than 600 athletes in Afghanistan; and 4,400 new athlete heroes in Rwanda.
Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) was established as part of the global movement in 1978. It currently caters for more than 6,000 athletes across its 19 regions within England, Wales and Scotland - this however represents less than one quarter of a percent of the learning disabled population (1.5 million) and its goal by end of 2010 is to double the number of athletes in regular sports training.
Special Olympics Great Britain is a registered charity and currently receives no government funding.
Special Olympics is recognised as the third member of the Olympic family. Specialising in year-round athletic training and competition for people with learning disabilities it strives through its sports programmes to provide long-term benefits to individuals' health, self-esteem and social integration.
There are currently 1.5 million people with learning disabilities in the UK - a further 200 babies are born each week with learning disabilities.
Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organisations. Special Olympics provides year- round sports and training opportunities for individuals with learning disabilities of all ability levels. Paralympics provides elite-only level sports competition for multi-disabled groups including physical, blind and deaf.
Special Olympics GB is generously supported annually by individual and corporate donations. Partners include, The Coca-Cola Youth Foundation, ABB, SAS and Lions International.
Click here to visit the Special Olympics Great Britain website.