Our Story

Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics with a vision that individuals with intellectual disabilities were far more capable in sports and physical activity than many experts believed possible. In 1968 Mrs. Shriver organized the first Special Olympics International Games in Chicago, Ill. Three athletes from Special Olympics WV were among the participants.

Special Olympics West Virginia held its first state Games in 1977 with 100 participants.

Our Mission

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.

Our Movement

Special Olympics West Virginia serves over 4,400 registered athletes who train and compete in year-round programs in 18 different sports.

A voluntary Board of Directors serves as the governing body for Special Olympics West Virginia and employs a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) responsible for carrying out programs and activities.  A dedicated staff works closely with local volunteers to provide Special Olympics programs for people with intellectual disabilities.

These programs are organized by approximately 33 sub-accredited local programs throughout the state, and the involvement of more than 3,500 volunteers makes possible nearly 1,000 sport practices and 300 competition events at local, area, state, regional, and national levels each year. 

Special Olympics West Virginia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating under Federal Tax ID 55-0596975.  Athletes are never charged a fee of any kind to participate in Special Olympics. Generous support from individuals, businesses, foundations, and civic groups helps fund the training facilities, uniforms, awards, equipment, transportation, and coaches’ education that are important to every athlete’s experiences.  Support Special Olympics West Virginia today, and give the power of sport to one more athlete.

Special Olympics aims to combine high quality sports with a wide audience, and be a driving force for social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.