• 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 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

Three days of competition and achievement

Summer Games

Thanks for a fantastic 55th anniversary year!

2024 Summer Games

Our largest annual competition, Summer Games brings together more than 2,400 athletes and Unified partners from across the state together on the campuses of Indiana State and Rose-Hulman for three days of competition and achievement, friendship and fun, ceremony and celebration.

This event was possible through the generous support of more than 1,200 event volunteers, sponsors, and donors. Thousands of coaches, chaperones and spectators also take part in the Summer Games, making this event a celebration of the spirit of Special Olympics.

The theme for the 55th annual Summer Games was our athletes’ 55-year journey with SOIN, A Journey to Your Heart, which was inspired by the Athlete Leadership Conference held at our State Conference in October 2023.

State Office Contact

Headshot

Kevin Aders

Director of Team Sports & Logistics

Sports Offered

  • Bocce
  • Bowling
  • Cycling
  • Powerlifting
  • Swimming
  • Track & Field
  • Volleyball
  • Entries

Bocce

Similar to lawn bowling, the basic principle is to roll a bocce ball closest to the target ball, called a palina. Bocce provides people of all ages, skills and mobility to develop social contact, develop physically and gain self-confidence.

Bowling

Bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible. It is a popular sport for all ages and abilities, offering physical exercise and social integration. Ramp bowling Is available for Individuals with mobility Issues or lower motor function.

Cycling

Cycling is a sport that requires good physical condition, balance, endurance and tactics. Special Olympics Indiana competitions include time trial and road race events in different distances. Every athlete aims at traveling at the best possible time to arrive at the finish line first.

Powerlifting

Special Olympics Indiana powerlifting is much more than deadlift, squat and bench press. It is effort, persistence, loyalty, training, determination and attitude. These characteristics define the balance between a successful or a failed attempt.

Swimming

Swimming is a sport and a life skill that is taught to both ensure safety and for and competition purposes. From short sprints to longer events and relays, this sport Is open to swimmers of all abilities, including newcomers to the water.

Track & Field

Also called “Athletics” Internationally, track and field encourages athletes of all abilities and ages to compete at their optimum level. Through training, participants can develop skills, competitiveness and total fitness to compete in any sport.

 

 

Volleyball

Volleyball attracts all types of players, from competitive to recreational, young and old. To play, athletes should acquire some basic skills and learn a few rules. Develop skills such as hand-eye coordination, teamwork and physical fitness to grow and Improve In the sport.

Resources:

 

Snapshot from 2023

participation by the numbers

Athletes

Red Jersey Iconography

2000

Atendees

Red Handshake iconography

3038

Competitions

Red Whistle Iconography

8

Check Out Our Photo Galleries

Three Days of Competition and Celebration

Athletes, coaches and volunteers came to Terre Haute In June for the 2024 Summer Games. Friendships were rekindled, and competition was fierce. Through it all, smiles and laughter won the day. View more photos on our Flickr.

powerlifting

Special Olympics Indiana Needs You

Get Involved

Special Olympics Indiana athlete Landon Johnson and his first pitch partner.

Participate as an Athlete

Become part of a team and gain opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a movement that impacts lives for the better. Join us today!

Participate as an athlete

Volunteer With Us

Volunteers are the backbone of Special Olympics Indiana! Make a real difference in the lives of others. Sign up today.

Explore Opportunities

Become A Coach

Be a mentor, role model, and coach for our athletes. Empower them to achieve their full potential through sports!

Learn More