Special Olympics Ontario
Ontario
Special Olympics Ontario (SOO) is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with an intellectual disability through sports. For over 50 years, Special Olympics has grown from a modest program serving local athletes, to become the world’s largest movement dedicated to promoting respect, acceptance, inclusion, and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities. The greatest good, for the greatest number, takes place locally. SOO programs operate in towns and cities, in schools and with like-minded partners. Most importantly, SOO is focused on reaching those who haven’t found Special Olympics with the same zeal as those who are active and engaged today. The organization works to ensure their volunteers are strongly committed to acting locally, while thinking globally.
“David, a Special Olympics athlete commented on how excited he was to be playing a game and that he feels loved when he sees his friends. An athlete who feels lost and lonely in so many ways is now feeling what it is like to belong to our family, our Special Olympics family.” -A Special Olympics coach
How your donations will help
Funds will be used to RECOVER, REBUILD and RE-IGNITE the movement and support the Special Olympics “post pandemic” plan called Hometown Games. This plan will require a support system that empowers local programs to meet the needs of athletes where they practise, play, and compete.
Hometown Games will be SOO’s provincial bridge back to competition. The pandemic has caused an anomaly where capacity limits curtail the ability to plan provincial and/or national competitions as accustomed. This delay has caused a ripple effect within the movement. The athletes “crave” competition and the recognition that comes from the same. The (HTG) program is being designed to supplement this important objective, while the organization moves to larger events.
