In 1968, Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics because she passionately believed that people with mental retardation, young and old, could take part in and benefit from competitive sports. She was convince that they could - with training and practice - learn to run a race, throw a ball, swim and play team sports. Lessons learned through sports would translate into competence and success in school, in the workplace and in the community.

Today, Special Olympics is the world's largest program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with mental retardation, inspiring greatness in more than a million athletes and 160 nations worldwide. Because of Special Olympics, the world has been able to witness the courage, character, dedication, dignity and worth of people who had once been considered incapable of contributing to society.

The benefits of Special Olympics reach beyond the athletes who participate. The coaches, volunteers, families and donors all experience joy from the opportunities that the Special Olympics movement brings to their lives.

Our local program, Desert Special Olympics, began in the 1970's and serves the Coachella Valley from Palm Springs to Thermal.

Special Olympics athletes are men, women, boy and girls with mental retardation or a closely related developmental disability.
They are like other athletes. They train and compete. They learn to win and lose. They strive to do their best. They inspire us.
 Athletes range in age from 8 to 108.  They must be 8 years old to start competing.
Desert Special Olympics is now offering 8 sports: Aquatics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Golf, Softball, Tennis and Snowshoeing.