Special Olympics . . . on the Upper Shore !!! The concept for Special Olympics was born in the early 1960’s when Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a day camp for people with intellectual disabilities at her home in Rockville, Maryland. The first International Special Olympics Games were held in 1968 at Soldier’s Field, Chicago with 1,000 athletes participating from 26 states and Canada.

That concept has grown into one of the largest and most successful sports and volunteer organizations in the world. Special Olympics programs are in every state and in over 160 countries worldwide, serving more than one-million athletes. Its vision is simple and enduring: “to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for persons eight years of age and older 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.”

All Year Long, and It's Free ! There are training and competition opportunities every day throughout the year. Our programs are free to all eligible athletes and are possible thanks to the generous support from individuals and businesses who believe in Special Olympics athletes. Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals, organizations, corporations and foundations.

Who is Eligible ? Eligible athletes have functional limitations in both general learning and in adaptive skills. This typically includes all individuals with intellectual disabilities, combination deaf-blindness, autism, traumatic head injury, and most individuals with cerebral palsy and specific learning and/or developmental disabilities. Children age six & seven may participate in Special Olympics training, but may not compete.

Throughout Maryland there are about 150,000 persons with intellectual disabilities and/or closely related developmental disabilities who can benefit from our sports programs. Eligible athletes are all children & adults at least eight years old.

Unified Sports Special Olympic Unified Sports is a program bringing together Special Athletes with their non-disabled peers. Currently, Unified Sports are offered in soccer, basketball, bowling, aquatics, softball and bocce. We are expanding this exciting program every year.

Opportunities for All of Us ! Competitions are held year ‘round. Dozens of Sports Qualifiers are scheduled monthly at venues all over the State, culminating in the Summer and Winter Games every year. It takes hundreds of coaches and volunteers thousands of hours to make it all possible for the athletes. There are few things more rewarding than helping a special athlete compete and feel a part of something special. Many of our coaches and volunteers continue on and become vital members of the Special Olympics family.

Foundations, Corporations Organizations and Individuals alike benefit as well from the contributions of time and money to Special Olympics. You can become involved in many ways, from your volunteer time, to supporting local fundraisers, to corporate donating and sponsorship.

We are more than sports . . . Special Olympics Maryland Healthy Athletes provides free health screenings. These free health screenings and services are offered to athletes at local and State competitions. Comprised of seven unique disciplines – Fit Feet, FUNFitness, Health Promotion, Healthy Hearing, MedFest, Opening Eyes and Special Smiles. The program goal is to improve training and competition by focusing on the overall health and fitness of Special Olympics athletes through basic health screenings, educational information and referrals for follow-up care as needed.