The Special Olympics World Games offer the opportunity to unite the world like no other event can. Here, people with and without disabilities, people of different nations, cultures, political views and religions – can meet and overcome existing prejudices with the power of sport. World Games are held every two years, alternating between Winter and Summer Games.
2023 Special Olympics World Games Berlin
From June 17-25, Berlin, Germany welcomed 7,000 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners from approximately 170 countries to compete in 24 sports. The athletes were supported by more than 3,000 coaches and 20,000 volunteers. SOOK representatives on Team USA were: Athletes Kearsty McCoy and Caleb Cain, coach Caleb Shoaf, and LETR runner Fran Singleton.
2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games
2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games were hosted by Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Games were held March 14-21, 2019. This was the first Special Olympics World Games held in the Middle East. The Games were the world’s largest humanitarian and sporting event of 2019. SOOK representatives on Team USA were: Athlete Cody Shelton and Unified partner Dave Francis.
2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games
2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games returned to Austria. The Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria marked a global celebration of abilities and unity. The Games were the world’s largest sports and humanitarian event in 2017, as Austria welcomed nearly 2,600 Special Olympics athletes from 105 nations to compete in nine Olympic-type winter sports. This was the second time the Special Olympics World Winter Games were held in Austria. In 1993, Austria was the first country to host a Special Olympics World Games outside the USA, make the Games truly international.
Oklahoma sent two athletes who competed in Alpine Skiing. Oklahoma was also represented by a volunteer Alpine Skiing coach and a representative on the USA Medical Team.
For more information contact John Seals, VP of Sports & Training