Athletes are the heart of Special Olympics. Our athletes are children and adults with intellectual disabilities from all around the world. They are finding success, joy, and friendship as part of our global community. They’re also having lots of fun!
Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ) programs are at no cost to the participants. To begin the adventure of making friends and learning new skills, follow the 3 easy steps below:
Kick things off by registering as an athlete with Special Olympics Arizona! You can call our office or email us to sign up and find your team! We can’t wait to be the bridge to sports, friendships, and unforgettable experiences!
During your Athlete registration, you will complete a short Health History & Release Form. If no significant health concerns are identified, you’re good to move to the next steps in becoming an Athlete!
If something in the initial health screening needs a closer look, we may ask for a follow-up to see if a more detailed Medical Form (signed by a doctor) is necessary. This might apply to athletes with:
Heart conditions (not including mild high blood pressure with a recent physical)
Asthma
Insulin-dependent diabetes
Bleeding disorders
Seizure disorders or epilepsy
Down syndrome with potential spinal concerns or neurological issues
A doctor’s recommendation to limit activity without recent clearance
Once you’re registered, it’s time to explore your options! Discover the wide range of sports we offer and find the one that inspires you most.
Be part of a team, train alongside passionate coaches, and form strong bonds with fellow athletes. Compete in a way that’s right for you, aim high, and celebrate every win—big or small.
We’re here to make signing up as an athlete for Special Olympics Arizona as simple as possible. Choose the description below that best matches your situation to get started:
If you have your own email address and want to manage your own registration:
Head over to the Portal and click “Create an Account.” When asked about your role, select “I am an Athlete.”
This path is right for you if:
No need to make a new profile—just log in to your volunteer Portal account and choose “Access Parent/Guardian Zone” to begin entering your athlete’s info.
Choose this option if:
Go to the Portal and select “Create an Account.”
When prompted to choose your role, select “Parent/Guardian/Family.”
You’ll complete your own registration first, then enter the athlete’s details.
If you’re helping an athlete who can’t register themselves or doesn’t have a caregiver available, use your Portal account to complete their registration.
After logging in, go to the “Contact Zone” and then click “My Participants.”
Everybody is different. Special Olympics is for people who are different because they learn new skills slowly. They are different in other ways as well. They have an intellectual disability, or ID. Intellectual disabilities happen in all cultures, races, and countries. The goal of Special Olympics is to reach out to the nearly 200 million people worldwide with ID. Our 5 million Special Olympics athletes—ages 8 years old and up—come from more than 170 countries. We also have a Young Athletes program for children ages 2 to 7. At any age and in every country, our athletes learn new skills, make new friends, and gain fitness and confidence.
Special Olympics trainings and competitions happen 365 days a year in 172 countries.
We offer 30-plus Olympic-style winter and summer sports. So whatever your age or skill level, Special Olympics has something for you. Many athletes start in one sport, then go on to try others.
Through sports, our athletes are seeing themselves for their abilities, not their disabilities. Their world is opened with acceptance and understanding. They become confident and empowered by their accomplishments. They are also making new friends, as part of the most inclusive community on the planet—a global community that is growing every day.
Abdel-Raman Hassan is an athlete whose life changed after he joined Special Olympics. He’s a swimmer with ID from Saudi Arabia. He is also partially paralyzed. Yet he doesn’t let anything—or anyone—put limits on his abilities.
His talent for swimming did not come naturally or easily. Abdel-Raman’s father says it took him a month to hold his breath underwater for three seconds. It took him a year to swim a distance of one meter. He did not give up. Abdel-Raman went on to win gold medals in 25- and 50-meter races at World Summer Games. He is a champion.
Through sports training and competitions, Special Olympics helps people with ID find joy, acceptance, and success. As their lives open up, athletes gain the confidence that comes with achievement. They feel empowered. They are ready to take on new leadership challenges to make use of their new abilities. They can become mentors for other athletes. They can train to become coaches and officials. They can also move toward a more public role as a speaker or spokesperson. They can speak to audiences and journalists about the positive changes that Special Olympics helped bring about in their lives. At Special Olympics, our athletes are empowered to share their many gifts and talents with society.
Yet, it’s more than that. Our athletes also become empowered to be leaders in society—and teach us all about acceptance and understanding.
