Unified Sports®

Unified Sports® is a registered program of Special Olympics that combines athletes with developmental or cognative disabilities and their peers (partners) without disabilities on the same team for training and competition. The most important aspect of this program is inclusion. The two (athlete and partner) compete side by side.

In 1989, after two years of field testing, the Unfied Sports® program was launched throughout the United States.

Goals of the Unfied Sports® program:

• Meaningful inclusion - Unfied Sports® rules and guidelines on age and ability grouping help ensure that all athletes play an important, meaningful and valued role on the team.
• Community-based participation - Unfied Sports® programs have found valuable partners in schools, parks and recreation departments and many community organizations. These partnerships help further include athletes in their community.
• Friendship and socialization - The program provides a forum for positive social interaction between teammates and often leads to long-lasting friendships.
• Transition and choice - Unfied Sports® programs help schools meet transition mandates of IDEA and provide a choice for athletes in and out of Special Olympics.
• Competition experiences - Athletes benefit from physical and mental challenges participating in a variety of competitions organized by Special Olympics or by community sports organizations.

If you would like to volunteer to be a Unfied Sports® Partner, please contact our Head of Delegation (Les Fenton). He can be reached via e-mail by going to the Contact Us (see above) page.