Edwardsville School District Special Olympics

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.  Special Olympics Illinois does not charge athletes or their families to participate in the program. You can find more information at Special Olympics Illinois. 

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Edwardsville Special Olympics is agency 107 of Region J Special Olympics Illinois.  Currently Edwardsville offers participation in Athletics (track & field), Aquatics, Basketball, Unified Basketball, Bowling, Unified Flag Football, Soccer, Unified Soccer, and the Young Athletes' Event.

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Participation in Special Olympics training and competition is open to all persons with intellectual disabilities who meet the age requirement (at least 8 years old) regardless of the level or degree of that person's disability, and whether or not that person also has other mental or physical disabilities, so long as that person registers to participate in Special Olympics as required by the Special Olympics Incorporated General Rules. This includes individuals with Autism who, because of thier disability, are not otherwise able to participate on traditional athletic teams.

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Although individuals must be 8 years old to train and compete in Special Olympics events, children ages 2 through 7 may participate in the Young Athletes' Event. Young Athletes program is an innovative sports play program for children  with intellectual disabilities and their peers, designed to introduce them into the world of sports.It will also serve as an introduction to the world of Special Olympics while showing resources and support available within Special Olympics Illinois.