Through the power of sports, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) discover new strengths and abilities, skills and success. Our athletes find joy, confidence and fulfillment — on the playing field and in life. They also inspire people in their communities and elsewhere to open their hearts to a wider world of human talents and potential. There are approximately 170,000 people with IDD in Washington. Our goal is to reach every one of them – and their families as well.

Join Special Olympics Washington and be the best you can be!

To be eligible to participate in Special Olympics, athletes must:

  • Be at least 8 years old (children ages 2-1/2 to 7 are eligible to participate in the Young Athletes program).
  • Be diagnosed by an agency or professional as having one of the following conditions: intellectual disability; a cognitive delay as determined by standardized measures such as intelligence quotient or other generally accepted measures; or a closely related development disability, i.e., functional limitations in both general learning and adaptive skills.
  • Complete all required online forms including self-reported medical information and associated releases and waivers.
  • Agree to uphold the Special Olympics Athlete Code of Conduct.

Ready to join the Special Olympics Washington team?

Register Online

For more information or questions about our registration portal, please visit our Portal Resources page or email us at PortalSupport@sowa.org.

For information on how to become a Unified partner, please click here.