• About

    Find Your Local Program

    Special Olympics Indiana energizes athletes by organizing 10 dynamic Areas, each led by dedicated volunteers to support County Programs and host exciting regional competitions. Athletes thrive in vibrant community events, competing in various meets to earn their place in state-level championships.
    Find Your Community

    Our Initiatives

    Engage with athletes and volunteers across Indiana through our different Initiatives.

    About us

    Special Olympics Indiana engages and energizes athletes and volunteers throughout Indiana.

  • Competitions

    Next up, State Basketball!

    Basketball is one of the most popular sports offered in our program. The State Basketball Tournaments bring together men, women and youth from across Indiana for two weekends of competition.
    Explore the Competition

    State Competitions & Beyond

    Special Olympics Indiana hosts a variety of state-level competitions year round and participates in a different national or global competition each year.

  • Athletes

    Become An Athlete

    Join Special Olympics Indiana, where 19,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities compete year-round in over 20 sports, enhancing fitness, showcasing courage, and sharing joy. Our Unified Sports® program fosters teamwork and inclusion by uniting athletes with and without disabilities. Be a part of something extraordinary!
    Start Playing Now
  • Volunteer

    Explore Volunteer Opportunities

    Whether you volunteer year-round, seasonally, or for just one event, you'll create unforgettable moments and make a significant impact. Support over 19,000 athletes to encourage their growth and foster meaningful connections.
    Become a Volunteer
  • Special Events
  • Ways to Give

    Featured Fundraiser

    Runners
    Law Enforcement Torch Run
Woman in angel's costume holding a microphone

7

Counties

950

Total Participants

Get involved

About Area

Special Olympics Indiana is divided into 10 geographic regions – known as Areas – within the Hoosier state. These Areas, led by teams of volunteers, offer Area-level competition and support for County Programs located within their regional boundaries.

All 10 Areas offer a bowling tournament in the fall and a Track & Field meet in the spring. Special Olympics Indiana athletes must compete at the Area level in order to advance to state-level competition.

GET CONNECTED

Area 9 Info

Headshot

Heather Sterwerf

AREA DIRECTOR

Headshot

Shane Sterwerf

AREA COMPETITION DIRECTOR

Two Men shaking hands
Tito Castillo

Spotlight

Tito

Castillo

For nearly a decade, Coach Tito has walked the sidelines for ROD basketball. He volunteers his time and energy to share his love of sports with the athletes. And he asks just one thing back: “Smiles.” Tito does not have a family member in the program, which makes his journey different than many coaches. He could not imagine better front-row seats to any other team. His approach is compete hard, have fun and maintain perspective. Sounds like a winning formula.

Ripley runners

Spotlight

Isaac Kramer

Luke Horstman

After childhoods marked with loneliness and isolation, Special Olympics Indiana has provided Isaac and Luke with the opportunity to build friendships and make their mark in the sport they love. These friendships gave them the confidence and assurance to take on a half-marathon and complete it. Those relationships also provide ongoing social opportunities to give them more fulfilled lives.

Upcoming Events

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united by sports

Inspiring Individuals

Our athletes, coaches, and volunteers are as diverse and powerful as our programs. Get a glimpse of the excitement and range of activities you can experience year-round.

Man smiling in front of volleyball net
Group of athletes smiling for picture holding torch at event
Athletes cheering as they cross the finish line
Male athlete running on track
Two female athletes running on track
Sport Coaches chat on the sidelines of game
Basketball player tries to steal ball from other player.
Athlete shooting basketball
Athlete shooting basketball
Coach standing on side lines watching game with blue shirt on.