Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) provides year-round sports training and 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 and experience joy while participating in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, Special Olympics athletes and the community.
SOWI’s goal is to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society, by offering opportunities to develop and demonstrate their talents through sports training and competition, and by increasing the public’s awareness of their capabilities and needs.
Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports. It empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, leading to a more respectful and inclusive society for all. Using sports as the catalyst as well as programming around health and education, Special Olympics works to end inactivity, injustice and intolerance.
Worldwide, Special Olympics is the largest sports organization for individuals with intellectual disabilities with 4.4 million athletes in 170 countries.