Our Mission

The mission of Special Olympics Michigan is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Athletes develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy while participating in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship among their families, Special Olympics athletes and the community. The athletes achieve their dreams with the support of caring volunteers, coaches, family members and staff. Donations from Michigan citizens and businesses provide funding for the program.

SOMI Quick Facts
• 20,797 athletes participate in Special Olympics Michigan with programs provided at no cost to athletes or their famliies

• 22 sports are offered

• 6 state-level competitions, 4 district basketball tournaments and more than 400 competitions statewide

• More than 20,000 volunteers

• Special Olympics Michigan is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported almost entirely through corporate funding and individual gifts

Athlete Participants and Communities

A Special Olympics Michigan athlete flexes during a powerlifting event at the State Summer Games.

At competitions athletes are placed into divisions based on age, gender, and ability. Competitions take place at local, regional, state, national, and world levels.

For a small investment in sports equipment and volunteers’ time, Special Olympics has the potential to become a vehicle for bringing people together, changing attitudes, and engaging a portion of the community that is otherwise forgotten.

In the United States, 52% of Special Olympics athletes are employed approximately half of these athletes are “competitively employed” – employed alongside people without intellectual disabilities.