Press Room

Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports. We empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful and inclusive society for all.

In Washington State, we provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for thousands of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Learn more about Special Olympics Washington’s impact on the community, including our latest data, in our 2022 Year in Review.

Media Contact
Jaymelina Esmele
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Email

2024 Press Releases

June 11, 2024 | Special Olympics Washington Announces Groundbreaking New Health Initiative for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: The Alliance for Inclusive Health; Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Signs on As First Alliance Partner

May 31, 2024 | Join the Excitement at Special Olympics Washington’s State Spring Games, June 7-9, 2024!

2023 Press Releases

June 8, 2023 | Experience Special Olympics Washington’s State Spring Games Friday, June 9 – Sunday, June 11

April 22, 2023 | Special Olympics Washington and Seattle Public Schools Team Up to Bring Unified Champion Schools Programming District-Wide

April 13, 2023 | Special Olympics Washington Receives More than $3.6 Million in Government Grants from Dan Thompson Memorial Developmental Disabilities Community Services Account

March 1, 2023 | Special Olympics Washington Returns to Wenatchee for the 2023 State Winter Games

February 28, 2023 | Special Olympics Washington Takes Leadership Role to Launch the Network of Giving into Washington State

2022 Press Releases

December 1, 2022 | Special Olympics Washington Unified Robotics Championship Shines the Spotlight on Inclusion and Ingenuity

November 17, 2022 | Let the Games Begin! Special Olympics Washington Returns to the Tri-Cities for the 2022 State Fall Games

November 14, 2022 | YMCA of the Inland Northwest and Special Olympics Washington Team Up to Give Special Olympics Athletes and Their Families Opportunities to Learn, Grow and Thrive At the YMCA

November 8, 2022 | Special Olympics Washington Returns to Play with a Bold New Vision for Inclusion; New “Beyond Gold” multi-year campaign will expand the scope, reach, and impact of the organization’s life-changing programs for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Washington State

June 17, 2022 | After More Than Two Years, Special Olympics Washington State Spring Games to Take Place Friday, June 17 – Sunday, June 19

June 2, 2022 | Special Olympics Washington to Send 100-Member Delegation to Orlando for 2022 Special Olympics USA Games

April 26, 2022 | Volunteers Needed for Special Olympics Washington Track and Field and Soccer Competitions in Western Washington on April 30 and May 1

April 18, 2022 | Volunteers Needed for Special Olympics Washington Aquatic Competitions in Federal Way on April 23 and April 24

March 30, 2022 | On Wednesday, March 30 Eat a Sub, Help Team Washington Athletes

February 1, 2022 | Special Olympics Washington Hosts the 2022 Polar Plunge

January 27, 2022 | Special Olympics Washington Names Kelly Campbell as First Athlete to Chair its Board of Directors

2021 Press Releases

May 24, 2021 | Sign Up for the CommUNITY Challenge and Go the Extra Mile for Special Olympics Washington Athletes

January 28, 2021 | Special Olympics Washington Hosts the Polar Plunge Challenge

2020 Press Releases

November 17, 2020 | Special Olympics Washington Names David Wu New President and CEO; Organization Also Announces Promotion of Mary K. Do to Chief Operating Officer

July 31, 2020 | Special Olympics Washington Hosts the 2020 Virtual Summer Games

January 2, 2020 | 2020 Special Olympics Washington Polar Plunge Events Make Big Splash Across the State with Stops in Tri-Cities, Wenatchee, Tacoma, Seattle and Anacortes

2019 Press Releases

September 30, 2019 | Fife High School to Receive Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools National Banner at All-School Assembly on Wednesday, October 2;School earns national recognition for commitment to meaningful social inclusion for students with intellectual disabilities and for creating an accepting school environment

2017 Press Releases

Seattle Polar Plunge
Kennewick Polar Plunge

2016 Press Releases

Breakfast with Champions
Winter Games Release
USA Games Sports Team
Summer Games
Summer Sports Classic
Sounders Sendoff
Red Robin
Polar Plunge Tacoma
Polar Plunge Release
House Raffle Release
Hoopfest
Turkey Bowl
Bowling
Red Robin

2015 Press Releases

World Games Send Off
Winter Games 2015
Turkey Bowl
Summer Games
Summer Sports Classic
Polar Plunge Tacoma
Red Robin Polar Plunge
Over the Edge Spokane
House Raffle
Kenmore Bowling
House Raffle Talking Points
Seattle U Soccer
Breakfast with Champions

2014 Press Releases

Special Olympics Polar Plunge
SPORT Restaurant to Celebrate Athletes & Winter Games
Tacoma Polar Plunge
Winter Games 2014
House Raffle Early Bird Drawing #1
Unified Soccer Kickoff
2014 Breakfast with Champions!
Summer Games 2014
US National Games
Over the Edge Spokane
New CEO: Dave Lenox
Over the Edge Seattle
Red Robin Tip-A-Cop

2013 Press Releases

Special Olympics World Winter Games
Special Olympics World Winter Games Sendoff
World Winter Games Results
Special Olympics Polar Plunge Seattle
Special Olympics Polar Plunge Tacoma
Special Olympics Winter Games 2013
Special Olympics Seattle Unified Soccer Kickoff
Special Olympics Tacoma Unified Soccer Kickoff
Special Olympics South America Unified Soccer Invitational
Summer Games 2013
Krispy Kreme & Special Olympics
Over the Edge Spokane
Buffalo Wild Wings for Special Olympics
Run from the Cops Renton
Over the Edge Seattle
Run from the Cops
Red Robin Tip-a-Cop
Unified Basketball Kickoff