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Welcome to Special Olympics Great Britain

Special Olympics Great Britain is proud to be the country’s largest provider of year-round sports training and competition programmes for children and adults with intellectual (learning) disabilities.

We are a recognised member of the Olympic family with a unique role to play. The Paralympics provides sports competitions for elite level disabled athletes with physical and sensory disabilities, including intellectual (learning) disabilities, while Special Olympics fosters community sport year-round at all levels for those with intellectual (learning) disabilities.

Since our formation in 1978 as part of the global Special Olympics Movement, Special Olympics Great Britain has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people through sport. There are currently 135 Special Olympics clubs in Great Britain, run by over 2,800 volunteers, and involving 8,000 athletes who benefit from our sports programme.

Only with your support can we continue to offer opportunities for more people with intellectual (learning) disabilities to experience fun, fitness and friendship through sport.


There are an estimated 1.2 million people in Great Britain with an intellectual (learning) disability. A further 200 babies with intellectual (learning) disabilities are born each week.

By 2013, we aim to grow the programme from 8,000 to 20,000 athletes and from 2,800 to 6,500 volunteers, so that more people with intellectual (learning) disabilities can be enabled to transform their lives through sport.