Special Olympics Arizona offers free of charge for all participants, year-round training and athletic competition in 24 Olympic-type sports. In order for athletes to compete at the state competition they must first compete in a local area competition.

For information about specific competitions in your local area, please go to the

Local Programs tab and click on your area.

Eligible participants may begin competing in Special Olympics at the age of eight.

However, Special Olympics Arizona does have Young Athletes (for athletes ages 2-7) and

Under Eight Can’t Wait (for athletes ages 6-7) programs.

The Statewide Games are listed below. Please go to the Calendar tab at the top of this page to find out the dates for the Statewide Games

Holiday Classic

Bowling North/Central Region, Bowling South, Cycling, and Soccer

Nearly 1,405 athletes, coaches unified partners and volunteers attend the Holiday Classic. This competition includes bowling, unified bowling, cycling and soccer. Additional, events such as opening ceremonies and victory dance top off the Holiday Classic.

Bowling is one of Special Olympics most popular sports. At the 1995 World Games bowling boasted 454 athletes from 23 countries! Special Olympics bowling also includes a Unified Sports division. In this competition athletes with and without intellectual disabilities compete on the same team. Their score is averaged and the best averaged score wins.

Soccer has also been a very popular sport with Special Olympics athletes giving them an opportunity to unite in team unity, athletes learn first hand the benefits of playing as a team. This promotes communication, camaraderie and friendships.

Cycling includes eleven categories of competition, including 500m to 5k time trials, 10k to 40k road races and tandem events.

Winter Games

Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Snowshoeing,

Speed Skating and Snowboarding

Close to 383 athletes attended Special Olympics Arizona Winter Games in Flagstaff. Athletes and Volunteers from across the state come to compete and make a difference in gaining awareness of Special Olympics Arizona.

Winter Games is designed as the culmination of the Special Olympics Northern Arizona Winter Sports which is held in Flagstaff. Winter games include Alpine skiing, cross country skiing, floor hockey, snow shoeing and speed skating.  Additional events also include opening and closing ceremonies plus a victory dance. Athletes must have current medical release/consent form on file toattend events.

Basketball and Cheerleading

Basketball, Cheerleading

Over the past twenty years, Special Olympic Arizona has acquired 913 athletes, 40 delegations and 88 coaches, making participation to be over 1,200 athletes, coach’s chaperones and volunteers to our Basketball and Cheerleading competition. 

As one of the world's most popular sports, basketball is a big favorite in Special Olympics. Athletes learn teamwork while improving their athletic ability. Special Olympics basketball includes over 69,000 athletes in over 40 countries, including every US program. As in all Special Olympics sports, basketball teams are grouped in competition divisions according to the athletes' and team's ability level, age and gender.

Special Olympics Arizona is one of the few states offers Cheerleading to there competitions.  Athletes may enter Team Competition, Unified Team Competition and/or Individual Skills. Cheers must not last longer than two minutes per cheer. Cheerleaders are judged on creativity, appearance, enthusiasm, voice projection and execution of cheer. Athletes must have current medical release/consent form on file toattend events.

Summer Games Registration

Athletics, Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Powerlifting, Tennis, Equestrian

and Kayaking

Nearly 1,080 athletes, 500 coaches and chaperones and 700 volunteers attended Special Olympics Arizona Summer Games. Athletes and Volunteers from across the state come to compete and make a difference in gaining awareness of Special Olympics Arizona. 

During Summer Games, Special Olympics Arizona also recognizes Healthy Athletes. Healthy Athletes was developed in 1996, to improve athletes' ability to train and compete in Special Olympics. Healthy Athletes is designed to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness, leading to enhanced sports experience and improved well-being.

Summer Games features seven sports including athletics (track and field), gymnastics artistic, gymnastics rhythmic, powerlifting, tennis, equestrian and kayaking.  Additional events include opening & closing ceremonies, victory dance and Olympic village. Athletes must have current medical release/consent form on file toattend events. Athletes must have current medical release/consent form on file toattend events.

Fall Games

Aquatics, Bocce, Golf and Softball

Nearly 1,370 athletes, coaches chaperones, volunteers attended Special Olympics Arizona Fall Games. Athletes and Volunteers from across the state came to compete and make a difference in gaining awareness of Special Olympics Arizona. 

Special Olympics Arizona Fall completion features four sports including aquatics, bocce, golf and softball.  Additional, events such as opening ceremonies and victory dance top off the Fall Games.

During Fall Games, Special Olympics Arizona also recognizes Healthy Athletes. Healthy Athletes was developed in 1996, to improve athletes' ability to train and compete in Special Olympics. Healthy Athletes is designed to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness, leading to enhanced sports experience and improved well-being.