2026 USA Games: June 19, 2026 – June 27, 2026

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Special Olympics Arizona is thrilled to announce the start of the nomination process for athletes, partners, and coaches for the 2026 USA Games in Minnesota! This event offers a unique opportunity for individuals to showcase their talents on a national stage. We are seeking nominations for athletes and partners aged 18 and older who can travel independently for an extended period, as well as coaches for each sport.

Special Olympics North America allocated quotas to its 53 programs, including ours, based on various factors such as athlete participation and regional needs. We are proud to have received our share of this allocation, and will begin the selection process based off the quota we received. Whether you’re an athlete ready to shine, a Unified Partner eager to support and engage, or a coach dedicated to leading a team, we encourage you to submit your nominations.

This is an exciting chance to highlight the incredible contributions of our community members and to promote the values of inclusion, sportsmanship, and empowerment. For more information about the nomination process, please see the links below. Let’s come together to make Arizona proud at the 2026 USA Games!

Please note – the submittal of these nomination forms does not guarantee a spot on the Team AZ Delegation. 

The nomination form for additional individual sports and team sports will be sent out upon the completion of each of those sports seasons/state competitions. 

• Additional individual sports includes:

  • Athletics (Track & Field), Golf, and Powerlifting.

• Additional Team Sports includes:

  • Basketball (Interscholastic Unified Team)

  • Competitive Cheer (Unified)

  • Flag Football (Unified)

  • Softball (Traditional)

  • Volleyball (Unified)

Friday, January 24th, 2024 is the deadline to submit the Coach Nomination form for coaches nomination form for golf, athletics, and powerlifting.

Friday, January 31st, 2024 is the deadline to submit the Individual Athlete and Partner Nomination form for ONLY GOLF.

Golf Information:

• If submitting for Level 2 Unified, please submit as Unified Pair (1 Athlete & 1 Partner) – final score must have been under 70 at state to qualify.
• Athletes & Partners should have competed together at state and earned a medal.
• If submitting for the male level 4 slot, you are permitted to bring your own caddie (not required) – final score must have been under 70 at state to qualify.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Athletes and Partners MUST be able to travel, toilet, and feed themselves independently to be eligible for this experience. Please ensure you are only nominating those that are able to be successful and independent at this event. There is minimal access to parents/guardians, and most time is spent with the Team AZ delegation form the time we leave Arizona to the time we return.

If you have any questions about the nomination forms, please reach out to Ryan Betcher, Head of Delegation, at ryan@specialolympicsarizona.org and Sean Williams, Assistant Head of Delegation, at sean@specialolympicsarizona.org.

Find out more about the 2026 USA Games here!