Special Olympics North Carolina offers training and competition in 20 Olympic-type sports. See the sports here. Local program sport offerings vary based on athlete interest, coaches and facility availability. To find out what sports are offered by this program, contact the local program coordinator.

Learn more here!

RyzAb0ve Fitness Classes
Thursdays, February 23 – March 23
6 – 7 p.m.
Learn more.

Spring Sports Sign Up Night
March 6
6 – 7 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
Learn more.

Dodgeball Game
March 11
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
Learn more.

Unified Basketball Event at East Gaston High School
March 17
9:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Elementary and high school classes only

Special Populations Dance Series
Next dance: March 24
7 – 9 p.m.
Learn more.

Healthy Athletes Day
March 31
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Phillips Center
Learn more.

Fishing Derby
April 1
1:45 p.m. check-in
Rankin Lake Park
Learn more.

Athlete and Family Spring Social
April 3
6:30 – 8 p.m.
Learn more.

Ronald McDonald House Athlete Volunteer Day
April 15
2 p.m.
Learn more.

Spring Games
April 21
9:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Stuart Cramer High School
View the registration form.

Committee Meeting
One Monday a month (January 23, February 27, March 20, April 24, May 15, June 12)
6 – 7 p.m. at Gaston County Sheriff’s Office
Athletes interested in being on this committee can learn more here.

Are you interested in having a Special Olympics athlete at your event or meeting? There are two Athlete Leadership roles that you can request!

Global Messengers

Global Messengers are Special Olympics athletes who have been trained in public speaking to serve as ambassadors for the organization.  They can recruit potential athletes, volunteers and sponsors through public presentations.

Athlete Ambassadors

Athlete Ambassadors are representatives for Special Olympics North Carolina at functions that often have businesses or individuals that have donated money, food, etc. to Special Olympics NC and this is a way to thank them. Ambassadors are able to say thank you and show our appreciation while at events.

To schedule a Global Messenger or Athlete Ambassador appearance, please contact the local coordinator.

Since athletes never pay a fee to participate in Special Olympics, donations and sponsorships allow our program to purchase seasonal sport equipment, pay facility rental fees, purchase uniforms, and pay for travel (hotels, competition registration fees, etc.). See the 2022-23 Sponsorship Form.

Contact us if you are interested in being a sponsor of our program.  We would love your support!

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools bring youth with and without intellectual disabilities together through sports and education to create school communities of acceptance and respect. Unified Champion Schools are seen through every level of education (Pre-K/Head Start through college) and are driven by youth and staff leaders.

Get your school involved as a Unified Champion School!

• Polar Plunge Thank You
• February 21 Newsletter
• RyzAb0ve Fitness Flyer
• Spring Games Registration Form
• UNC Charlotte Men’s Basketball Game
• Polar Plunge Fundraiser
• Healthy Athletes Day
• Winter Sports Flyer