• 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, Fall Bowling!

    Bowling has grown into one of the most popular sports offered in our program. The State Bowling Tournament, held annually in late fall, brings together hundreds of athletes and Unified partners from across the state for two days of fun and competition in Indianapolis.
    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

    Polar Plunge
    Polar Plunge

Unified Champion City Schools

Unified Champions City Schools is a partnership between Special Olympics Indiana and inner and urban school districts including Indianapolis Public Schools and Fort Wayne Public Schools that facilitates participation in UCCS programming by pre-schools through high schools in Marion County and Allen County in Indiana. Bringing youth leaders, scholars, and athletes together on school campuses to positively affect school climate and tone. It helps generate positive relationships and improve learning environments.



Location: Urban and Inner-City Schools in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne


Unified® Sports Offered

Special Olympics Indiana State Office Sports

Unified PE and Fitness

Additional Sports

Basketball

Bocce

Bowling

Cheer

Cornhole

Esports

Flag Football

Kickball

Robotics

Soccer

Track and Field

State Office Contact

Headshot

Chris Akers

Unified Champion City Schools Consultant

Criteria for success

Inclusive Youth Leadership:


All school-sponsored UCCS activities should be planned, organized and administered by an “Inclusive Student Leadership Team” that strives to do things WITH students with intellectual disabilities, NOT FOR them.




Whole School Engagement:


The school should participate in at least one activity designed around “Whole School Engagement” and/or a school-wide fundraiser for Special Olympics Indiana that promotes and encourages awareness, respect, and inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities.



School Assemblies

Hosted by comedian Craig Tornquist, our high energy school assemblies are an uplifting and fun way to energize your school while learning about Champions Together and Unified Champion Schools. Best known for his love of audience participation, Craig has delighted more than 3,000 school assembly crowds across the country and is joined by Special Olympics Indiana staff and student ambassadors in providing an overview of our program.



To host an assembly at your school, contact Craig Tornquist at
[email protected] or (574) 360-0853.







Unified Sports ®


The school should organize and participate in at least one Unified Sports® activity, such as a Unified Track and Field meet, a Unified Fitness Club, a Unified Physical Education class, Unified Bowling, or a Unified competition involving students with and without intellectual disabilities.




Collaborative Fundraising:


The school should fundraise a minimum of $250 (elem), $750 (middle) or $1,250 (high) for Special Olympics Indiana to assist in sustaining and expanding UCCS activities.

How to get involved at your school?  

Parents/students should contact teacher/administrator at school first.

Make An Impact

Impact Overview

The influence that the Unified Champion Schools initiative has on students and school building.

See Impact Overview

Transitions Visual

How young individuals can participate in Special Olympics throughout all grade levels while also participating in local programs at the same time.

See Transitions Visual

Roadmap

The UCS roadmap helps schools along their inclusion journey by providing helpful tips and resources .

See Roadmap