Special Olympics would not exist today - could not have been created - without the time, energy, dedication, and commitment of the more than 500,000 Special Olympics volunteers. Special Olympics as a movement relies on dedicated volunteers to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people eight years of age and older with mental handicaps.

Volunteers include students, senior citizens, business people, family members of athletes, amateur and professional athletes and coaches, teachers and many others. They fill a wide variety of roles for Special Olympics programs at the local, state, national and international levels, from the role of coach, to fund-raiser, to timer and scorer - the Volunteer Opportunities are numerous.

Anyone can be a Special Olympics volunteer. Volunteering for Special Olympics can create lifetime friendships and rewards of immeasurable value. If you're already involved, take pride in knowing that you are an important part of a program that offers opportunities to athletes with mental retardation around the world.

If you’d like to get involved, contact your Local Program office to see how you can volunteer in your area!

Under extraordinary circumstances when the criteria cannot be met, authority to deviate from established procedures may be requested of the appropriate body.  Alternate selection procedures must not conflict with Principles of athlete advancement stated in the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules.