Resources: Athlete and Volunteer Registration Portal

Updated on October 29, 2024

We’re excited to announce that our new athlete and volunteer registration portal — Portals.SpecialOlympics.org — is now available! Starting with the 2024 Fall Season, the new registration portal will replace our old systems and will be completely online.

Developed in partnership with Special Olympics International and built on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform, the new registration portal delivers with a range of benefits, including:

• A simplified, easy-to-navigate online registration process.
• Improved data security and protection.
• An online checklist that houses all requirements in one area.
• E-signature option for forms.
• Mobile and tablet-friendly registration.
• Group registration for events.
• Ability for family/guardians, volunteers and staff to register on behalf of an athlete.

Now, all Special Olympics Washington athletes (and their families/guardians on their behalf), coaches, Unified partners, and volunteers can create accounts/profiles and complete registration online.

Bookmark the new registration portal at Portals.SpecialOlympics.org.

This page will be continually updated with resources to help make the transition to the new registration system as easy as possible. If the information you need is not posted, please contact us at PortalSupport@sowa.org for assistance.

Getting Started (including FAQs)

• Athlete Registration
  • Step 1: Go to Portals.SpecialOlympics.org
    • Registering yourself as an athlete? Find the full user guide here.
    • Registering an athlete on their behalf? Find the full user guide here.
  • Step 2: If you are registering for the first time and are looking for a program, email portalsupport@sowa.org upon registration completion and a Special Olympics Washington staff member will start the process of connecting you to a program in your area.
• Unified Partner Registration
  • Step 1: Go to Portals.SpecialOlympics.org
  • Step 2: If you are registering for the first time and are looking for a program, email portalsupport@sowa.org upon registration completion and a Special Olympics Washington staff member will start the process of connecting you to a program in your area.
• Volunteer Registration (Event Volunteer, Coach, Chaperone, Program Coordinator, Games Management)
  • Step 1: Go to Portals.SpecialOlympics.org
    •  Event Volunteers: Find more information including upcoming volunteer opportunities here.
    • Find the full user guide here
  • Step 2: If you are registering for the first time and are looking for a program, email portalsupport@sowa.org upon registration completion and a Special Olympics Washington staff member will start the process of connecting you to a program in your area.
  • *Program Coordinators and Coaches only* Step 3: Enter the Coach Zone to manage your participants and teams – find full user guide here.

More Training Resources

•  All Users
  • Create An Account (video)
  • Glossary of Technical/Organizational Terms (PDF)
• Athletes and Their Circles of Care
  • Registering Yourself as An Athlete (video)
  • Registering An Athlete On Their Behalf (video)
  • For Parents, Guardians and Circles of Care: Managing an Athlete’s Profile (video)
• Volunteers
  • Registering Yourself as A Volunteer (video)

Other Resources

• Microsoft News (July 22, 2024): Special Olympics is racing toward a tech evolution. The athletes are leading the sprint. Read about the collaboration between Special Olympics and Microsoft that brought our new online registration system to life.

Questions? Please contact us at PortalSupport@sowa.org.