Special Olympics Rhode Island
Sports
Special Olympics Rhode Island offers over 660 sports training and athletic competition opportunities in 20 Olympic-type sports. Local training programs can be found in schools, service agencies, and communities throughout the state.
Coaches that train our athletes in the sports we offer have sport-specific training.
Sports by Season
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Fall Sports
Begins last week of August — ends around Thanksgiving
Cycling
Traditional Duckpin Bowling Traditional Soccer Unified Basketball Unified Bocce Unified Corn Hole Unified Flag Football and Flag Football Skills Unified Tennis and Tennis Skills Unified Champion Schools — Middle School Cross Country Unified Champion Schools — High School Volleyball SO College — Volleyball Young Athletes |
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Winter Sports
Begins last week of November — ends first week of March
Alpine Skiing
Nordic Skiing Snowboarding Snowshoeing Traditional Basketball and Basketball Skills Unified Duckpin Bowling Unified Ten Pin Bowling Unified Volleyball SO College — Basketball |
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Spring Sports
Begins first week of March — ends with the State Summer Games
Athletics (Track & Field)
Powerlifting Swimming Traditional Ten Pin Bowling Unified Soccer and Soccer Skills Unified Champion Schools — Basketball Young Athletes |
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Summer Sports
Begins first week of June — ends last week of August
Unified Golf and Golf Skills
Unified Sailing Unified Softball and Softball Skills |
Unified Sports Program
Special Olympics Unified Sports® combines people with intellectual disabilities (traditional Special Olympics athletes) and without intellectual disabilities (called partners) on sports teams for training and competition. In Rhode Island, Unified Sports® programs are offered in soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball, golf, sailing, bowling, flag football, tennis, cross-country running, cycling, croquet, and senior sports.
Using sports to help break down barriers that have historically kept people apart, Unified Sports® promotes meaningful inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities in the community. In fact, 93% of partners say they gained a better understanding of their teammates through Unified Sports®.
Unified Sports® is particularly successful in school settings, creating an inclusive environment where everyone benefits. Students with intellectual disabilities experience new social opportunities and make new friends they may not have otherwise. Their non-disabled peers learn valuable lessons of character development and may serve as mentors. Many parents and siblings also find that Unified Sports® offers a new way to spend time together and meet other families.
Unified Sports® is for anyone who enjoys competition, fun, and friendship. To get involved, email programs@specialolympicsri.org for more information.