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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.
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    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!
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    • 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.

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    • 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.

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    • become a coach

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

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    • 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.

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    • local volunteer opportunities

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

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  • 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.

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    • 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.

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Tommy Sliva Wins Unified Fitness Clubs’ Marty Smith Bike Challenge

By Joe Frollo   |   April 9, 2019   |   Tags:

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

Marty Smith is one of ESPN’s most popular and recognized reporters, hosting his own show (Marty Smith’s America) and covering a variety of sports including college football, basketball, the NFL and NBA, NASCAR, and others. He is also a huge fan of Special Olympics, having forged a deep connection with our athletes during ESPN’s coverage of the 2015 World Summer Games in Los Angeles, the 2017 World Winter Games in Austria, and the 2018 USA Games in Seattle.

As his way of giving back to the movement that has come to mean so much to him, Marty announced a few months ago that he and his sponsor SCOTT Sports would be awarding a high-end bicycle to 15 Special Olympics state programs to be presented to a deserving athlete. Indiana was fortunate to be among those selected, and we decided to make this extraordinary gift even more impactful by using it as incentive for increased participation in our Unified Fitness Clubs, designed to help our athletes and partners improve their health by staying active year-round.

All active participants in a UFC program were eligible to win the bike and were challenged to record the most steps they could during a one-month period from February 15 to March 15. The athletes who ranked among the Top 50 in total steps during that time frame were automatically entered into a random drawing, and Marion County NE athlete Tommy Sliva—who recorded 412,583 steps on his Movband—was selected as the winner!

With an assist from LOKE Bicycles in Fishers, Tommy received his brand new 2019 Scott Addict 30 this week. Congratulations to Tommy, and thank you to everyone who participated in this fitness challenge!

If you are interested in learning more about Unified Fitness Clubs or starting a new club in your area, please contact Manager of Health & Fitness Abbie Ivaldi.