Special Olympics

Kellye Stefanski

Sport, Special Olympics, Global

Mission:

The Special Olympics’ mission as a global organization is to provide sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities as it strives to create an inclusive culture through athletic, educational, and recreation programs in which athletes, families, and communities can participate.  

Actual Mission Statement:

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This gives them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

The industry in which the Special Olympics competes in the adaptive sports industry which also concerns intellectual disability research and development as well as generating awareness of intellectual disabilities and inclusivity around the world. They also host a number of events at local, state, and even the global level to raise funds and generate awareness for the organization and athletes.

The market in which the Special Olympics provides both their goods and services are the individuals, families, friends, volunteers, and communities which are affected by intellectual disabilities. Most specifically the youth and adult athletes with intellectual disabilities who train for and compete in the Olympics games.

The Special Olympics is unique in that it holds competitive position within the sports industry. the Special Olympics is the only organization in the world that offers 30+ Olympic-style individual and team sports, that provides those with disabilities opportunity to be included in competitive athletic environment at an elite level. Some of these sports include alpine skiing, bocce, bowling, gymnastics, golf, powerlifting and tennis. Special Olympics holds smaller District and Area level competitions in a centralized geographic area where athletes are given the opportunity to receive Gold in their division to move up the ladder to a State competition. There are also World Games competitions, which bring together athletes from all across the world. The Special Olympics’ unique value is that it is the highest achievement for athletes with intellectual disabilities the organization still faces competition.