Special Olympics Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Special Olympics PEI is dedicated to enriching the lives of Islanders with an intellectual disability through sports.
Through participation in Special Olympics programs, athletes gain confidence, self-esteem, and life skills. These programs help prepare athletes for any challenge, in sports, and in life.
Special Olympics uses the medium of sports to assist persons with an intellectual disability to become all that they can be – physically, mentally, socially, emotionally – and to become accepted, respected, and productive members of society. Potential athletes are never excluded because of financial constraints. During the COVID-19 pandemic all registration and program related fees have been waived.
The movement’s true power lies in its ability to create change in the lives of the children, youth and adults registered in the programs, and in the communities in which they live. For people with an intellectual disability, Special Olympics is often the only place where they have an opportunity to develop a strong belief in themselves. Through Special Olympics, they begin to see themselves differently. Whether by stepping onto the ice or onto the track, they now see themselves as athletes who can do so much more.
Off the fields of play, Special Olympics also has a strong focus on health and athlete leadership.
“I’m happy I’m in it now,” he said. “It’s just a lot of fun and you get to meet new athletes and it helped me out health wise – it keeps me in shape.” Brian, Special Olympics athlete since 2004
How your donations will help
Your donations will be used to fund grassroots programs across the Island, including the Healthy Athletes initiative and the Athlete Leadership Academy.
Health has a substantial impact on the quality of life for people with an intellectual disability and affects each Special Olympics athlete’s ability to train and compete in sports effectively. The Special Olympics Healthy Athletes initiative is a health screening and education program designed for people with Intellectual Disabilities. Healthy Athletes has made Special Olympics the largest health care provider for people with Intellectual Disabilities in the world.
In 2020, Special Olympics PEI launched an Athlete Leadership Academy. The Academy is an opportunity for Island athletes, beyond sports training and competition, to gain knowledge and experience in several modules/courses. As athletes explore and complete these workshops, they will build community and feel more empowered to reach their full potential.
