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  • 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

    • GETTING STARTED

      Getting started is easy! The first step is to fill out the Athlete Interest Form. This will help us learn more about your interests.

      Fill out the Athlete Interest Form

    • SPORTS OFFERED

      Join us and compete year-round in over 20 sports, enhancing fitness, showcasing courage, and sharing joy. Be a part of something extraordinary!

      Check Out the Sports

    • NEW TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS

      Whether you're a beginner or not, we welcome athletes of all abilities to join and be part of an empowering and inclusive community.

      Learn more

    • EXPLORE OUR COMPETITIONS

      From local tournaments to state championships, there are events for every level of ability. Each competition promotes sportsmanship, teamwork, and fun.

      SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING
  • 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

    • why volunteer

      Volunteers are the heartbeat of Special Olympics Indiana! Make a meaningful impact and be part of something transformative.

      become a volunteer

    • become a coach

      Become a Special Olympics coach and drive athlete performance and well-being with exceptional training and support.

      become a coach

    • Event day volunteer

      Volunteering on event day is easy and impactful! Take on roles like referee, scorekeeper, announcer, or awards presenter to make a difference in just a few hours.

      volunteer

    • local volunteer opportunities

      Make a direct impact and foster a supportive environment by getting involved locally today!

      explore opportunities
  • Special Events

    • Polar Plunge

      Be Bold, Get Cold! Show your support and make a splash this winter.

      Polar Plunge

    • Plane Pull Challenge

      The Plane Pull features the ultimate tug-of-war competition! Teams raise funds for the opportunity to test their strength by pulling an aircraft as fast as possible.

      Plane Pull

    • Law Enforcement Torch Run

      Officers and athletes rally together to support The Summer Games and raise funds for Special Olympics Indiana.

      Law Enforcement Torch Run

    • Charity Golf Classic

      This annual tradition unites our loyal supporters for an exclusive outing at one of Indiana’s top public golf courses!

      Charity Golf Classic

    • Breakfast With Champions

      Inspiring events highlighting the stories and impact of athletes, coaches, and volunteers in SOI programs.

      Breakfast With Champions

    • State Conference

      Featuring the Spirit of Special Olympics Awards, the annual Indiana State Conference provides training for program leaders, volunteers, and families.

      State Conference
  • Ways to Give

    Featured Fundraiser

    Polar Plunge
    Polar Plunge

    • donate now

      You can support Special Olympics in a variety of ways with a gift that makes an impact now.

      donate now

    • planned giving

      Consider including Special Olympics in your will or trust to create a lasting impact.

      Learn More

    • become a sponsor

      With events ranging from local to global in scale, there is opportunity for sponsors of every size to support Special Olympics.

      become a sponsor

    • contribute clothes

      Don’t need it? We’ll take it! Donate clothes at over 400 Special Olympics Indiana bins statewide.

      contribute clothes
Find Your Program
Stories State Calendar Who We Are
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Featured Athletes

Stories

A picture of Michael Vanarsdall holding his award for Athlete of the Year.

Michael Vanarsdall Named Athlete of the Year

Michael Vanarsdall from Shelby County is the 2022 Spirit of Special Olympics Indiana Athlete of the Year award winner. Presented …

Read More
Special Olympics Indiana Athlete Interns smiling in a compilation photo.

Special Olympics Indiana Welcomes Athlete Interns

From its beginning back in 2003, Athlete Leadership University has been growing and changing to offer Special Olympics Indiana athletes more opportunities …

Read More
Athlete Input Council logo and branded headline.

Athlete Input Councils Taking the Lead

Need some good news? Check out this story written by Charlotte Miller and Liz Strong of Special Olympics Indiana’s Washington …

Read More
Athlete Liz Strong throwing a blue ball in a Special Olympics competition.

Athlete Spotlight: Liz Strong

Liz Strong is an optimist. She is a hard worker who loves her job, an amateur comedian who knows how …

Read More
Tommy Sliva standing in front of a black and white mountain bike on a display rack.

Tommy Sliva Wins Unified Fitness Clubs’ Marty Smith Bike Challenge

Marty Smith is one of ESPN’s most popular and recognized reporters, hosting his own show (Marty Smith’s America) and covering a variety …

Read More
Brian Glick making a speech at a podium after being awarded the Dennis Schmidt award.

2018 Dennis Schmidt Impact Award

Special Olympics Indiana is pleased to announce that Brian Glick, from Tippecanoe County, has earned our 2018 ‘Dennis Schmidt’ Impact …

Read More
A picture of Katie Baumgartle biting her medal with a smile on her face.

Spirit of Special Olympics Indiana: 2018 ‘Michael Furnish’ Athlete of the Year

Special Olympics Indiana is pleased to announce that Katie Baumgartle, from Jeffersonville, is our 2018 Spirit of Special Olympics Athlete …

Read More
Team Indiana's Sonya Roy smiling at the camera in front of a "Special Olympics USA Games Seattle 2018" background.

Athlete Spotlight: Team Indiana’s Sonya Roy

As members of an organization centered on sports, it can sometimes be difficult to convince those who are not involved …

Read More
Andrew Peterson holding his medal after finishing the Boston Marathon.

From Early Trauma to the Boston Marathon: Andrew Peterson’s Story

Shared from Adopting Faith: A Father’s Unconditional Love with permission from the author, Donald Craig Peterson. The challenges of parenting children with …

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Special Olympics team wearing gold medals holiding an American flag, against a red Olympics background, in a group photo.

2017 Spirit of Special Olympics Athlete of the Year

Special Olympics Indiana is pleased to announce that Christopher Perdue, of the Ripley-Ohio-Dearborn Counties program, is our 2017 Spirit of Special …

Read More
Allyson Klei holds sectional trophy explaining “it made me feel like a real high school student in a sport” by participating in the Special Olympics Indiana Champions Together program.

Franklin County High School Changes Community with Unified Track Team

Each year, Champions Together, a program created by the collaboration between Special Olympics Indiana and the Indiana High School Athletic …

Read More
A picture of Philip Baker being passed the Special Olympics torch while emerging from water.

Meet Spirit of Special Olympics 2016 Athlete of the Year Philip Baker

Special Olympics Indiana is pleased to announce Philip Baker as the 2016 “Spirit of Special Olympics” Athlete of the Year.  …

Read More