About Special Olympics

Special Olympics provides 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.

Special Olympics' Beginning

The concept of Special Olympics began in the early 1960s when Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a day camp for people with intellectual disabilities. From that experience it was clear that individuals were far more capable in sports and physical activities than many experts believed.

"No records are broken in Special Olympics except those for courage, determination and sportsmanship."
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Founder and Honorary Chairman of Special Olympics Incorporated

In 1968, Mrs. Shriver organized the first International Special Olympics Games at Soldier Field in Chicago , Ill. Six athletes from North Carolina competed in those Games and the Special Olympics movement has been growing ever since.

North Carolina held its first games in 1970 in Burlington with 400 athletes competing that year. Then in 1971, Special Olympics, Inc. was chartered to administer the Special Olympics movement in the state.

Special Olympics North Carolina

Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) is one of the largest volunteer-driven sports organizations in the state with more than 20,000 volunteers. Involving more than 37,000 athletes who have intellectual disabilities, SONC offers more athletic training and competition to its athletes than any other organization.