Special Olympics offers year-round training and competition in 30 Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Participation is open to anyone ages 8 and older, and programs are designed to serve all ability levels.
Official Summer Sports applicable to South Africa Aquatics Athletics (Track & Field) Basketball Bocce Bowling Football (Soccer) Golf Table Tennis Volleyball
Official Winter Sports applicabe to South Africa Figure Skating Floor Hockey
Recognized Sports Recognized Sports are those that are popular within a limited number of countries, but are not featured at World Games. The following are applicable within South Africa.
Cricket & Netball
Initiatives
In addition to providing sports opportunities, Special Olympics South Africa is engaged in numerous initiatives which aim at fulfilling the potential of the athletes, their families and building inclusive and accepting communities. These include the
Young Athletes Program Family Support Network Healthy Athletes screenings in 7 disciplines Unified Sports Family Health Forums SO Get Into It Youth Activation and the Athlete Leadership Program
Special Olympics South Africa also hosted the Africa Leg of the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run in December 2008 and participated in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Fellowship program in 2009 and 2010.
World Games
Special Olympics World Summer and Winter Games drive the movement with over 7,000 athletes competing n the Summer Games and 3,000 in the Winter Games respoectively.
Special Olympics South Africa have taken part in every Special Olympics World Summer and Winter Games since 1993, bringing home countless medals each time and bringing with them a new sense of pride, confidence and inspiration to their families and their communities. Most recently Special Olympics South Africa returned with 71 medals after competing in 7 sporting codes at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.
Special Olypics South Africa will send a delegation of one foor hockey team and 4 figure skaters to compete in the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in PyeongChang, Korea in January 2013.