The Special Olympics sports experience has always been rooted in the radical notion that every person has the capacity to be an Olympian. Whether your interest is competitive or social in nature, we’ve got you covered. Special Olympics Virginia organizes and runs nearly 2,000 competitions each year for athletes of all ages, at no cost to participants.

Unified Sports^®, Young Athletes, Urban Programs, Healthy Athletes and Global Messenger initiatives create additional opportunities for athletes' personal development – both on and off the playing field.

Join us! Anyone 8 or older who has an intellectual disability can become a Special Olympics athlete. Athletes age 2-7 are eligible to participate in our Young Athletes^® program.

Here are some ways you can get started:

• Fill out our Athlete Interest Form and we’ll get back to you with more information about the program and how to get started.
• Check out our Athlete Eligibility Policy for details on athlete eligibility.
• Have questions about becoming an athlete? Visit our section.
• Already an athlete? Visit our resources page for helpful forms and policies.
• Interested in exciting opportunities beyond the playing field? Visit our special programs section for details on initiatives such as Healthy Athletes and our Global Messenger program.
• Still unsure about how to get involved? Contact your Region Director with any questions. If you are unsure about how to contact your Region Director, view our statewide map for contact details.