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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 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

    • 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

    • Champions Golf Classic

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

      Champions 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
    Registration is open for the 2026 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 partner

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

      become a partner
Find Your Program
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Unified Champion Schools®

Unified Champion Schools®

Building upon Special Olympics’ values, principles, practices and experiences, the Unified Champion Schools® (UCS) program promotes social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. Our goal is to engage students of all ages and abilities and to help shape a Unified Generation that “Chooses to Include.”

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Headshot

Mike Hasch

Senior Director of Unified Champion Schools

mhasch@soindiana.org

Find A School

Filter by Grade Level

Impact Overview

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools

Reduces bullying

91%

Sense of belonging

100%

Increases attendance

86%

Inclusive environment

94%

Levels

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Levels

Elementary School

Pre-K through Elementary

Middle School

Champion Together Logo

Middle School

High School

High School

Unified Champion City Schools

Urban and Inner City (IPS and FWCS)

Collegiate Champions

Colleges and Universities

Community Programs

Community Schools Icon

Community Programs

Unified Champion Schools that demonstrate the strongest commitment to inclusion receive Special Olympics’ highest honor, national banner recognition. Schools must complete 10 standards of excellence to be nominated to apply.

Indiana’s National Banner Schools

CLASS OF 2025

DeKalb High School (two-time winner)
Bedford North Lawrence High School (two-time winner)
Evansville North High School
Park Elementary School (Fairmount, Ind.)
Plainfield Community Middle School*

*-ESPN Honor Roll nominee

CLASS OF 2024

Blackford Junior Senior HS (two-time winner)
Carmel HS (two-time winner)
Fort Wayne North Side HS (two-time winner)
Griffith Jr./Sr. HS*
Lafayette Jefferson HS
Mooresville HS (two-time winner)
Valparaiso HS (two-time winner)

*-ESPN Honor Roll nominee

CLASS OF 2023

Franklin Community High School
O.J. Neighbours Elementary School-*
South Ripley High School (two-time winner)

*-ESPN Honor Roll nominee

CLASS OF 2022

Vincennes Lincoln High School-*

*-ESPN Honor Roll nominee

CLASS OF 2021

North Knox High School-*

*-ESPN Honor Roll nominee

CLASS OF 2020

Bedford North Lawrence High School
Center Grove High School
DeKalb High School
Franklin Central High School
Indian Creek High School
Mount Vernon High School
Rochester Community Middle School
Valparaiso High School-*

*-ESPN Honor Roll nominee

CLASS OF 2019

Blackford Jr.-Sr. High School
Carmel High School-*
Carroll High School (Fort Wayne)
Columbus East High School
East Noble High School
Fishers High School
Goshen High School
Harrison High School (West Lafayette)
Mooresville High School
Muncie Central High School
North Side High School (Fort Wayne)
Perry Meridian High School
South Ripley High School

*-ESPN Honor Roll nominee

Standards

Partners