To provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with learning disabilities giving them the continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of skills, gifts and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Since our formation in 1978 as part of the worldwide movement, founded in the USA in 1968 by the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver, we have transformed the lives of thousands of people through sport. There are currently 135 Special Olympics groups in GB, run by over 2600 volunteers and 8,000 athletes who benefit from our sports programme, but there are 1.2 million people with learning disabilities in the country. We are the country’s largest provider of a year-round sports training and competition programme for all people with learning disabilities.

Motor Activities Training Programme
Special Olympics Official Sports