Get Involved as an Athlete

Special Olympics offers 21 sports for athletes to practice and compete in, many of them lifetime sports that allow athletes to participate at any age.

Benefits of Participation
Learn about the many benefits to participating as an athlete with Special Olympics Texas.

Eligibility
To compete in Special Olympics, a person must be at least eight years old. Children at the age of six may begin a training program, but are not able to compete until the age of eight. A person must also be identified by an agency or professional as having one of the following:

• Intellectual Disabilities [Mental Retardation].
• Closely related development disability, which means having functional limitations in both general learning and in adaptive skills such as recreation, work, independent living, self direction, or self care.

Enrollment
To enroll, complete an Athlete Enrollment/Medical Release Form and submit it to your local area director.