Special Olympics North Carolina Inc

Special olympics north carolina experienced a strong return to in-person activities, reflecting a renewed commitment to its mission following the challenges of the pandemic. Most local programs successfully held spring games, with a few exceptions due to changes in volunteer leadership. Athlete participation in training and competition has returned to pre-pandemic levels, and virtual options continue to be embraced by schools across the state, offering greater accessibility and engagement. Additionally, athletes represented the state in various out-of-state competitions across multiple sports, showcasing their skills and sportsmanship.

In a typical year, special olympics relies on the energy, expertise, and commitment of over 43,000 volunteers each year to carry out year-round sports training, competition, and health/wellness opportunities for nearly 40,000 registered athletes. Special olympics recruits volunteers of all ages, backgrounds, and availability to serve roles that include event planning, athlete outreach, coordination of logistics, sport development team members, recruitment of other volunteers, unified champion schools, health initiatives, and much more. Volunteer coaches are essential to providing quality experiences for participating athletes, and through the special olympics north carolina coaches' certification process these volunteers are trained to meet the unique needs of people with intellectual disabilities.