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Youth Programs

Special Olympics BC offers year-round youth programming tailored to the needs of children and young people with intellectual disabilities, where they build vital skills and life-changing friendships and feelings of belonging. 

Special Olympics BC Youth Programs are offered at low or no cost for all participants with intellectual disabilities, providing a fun and welcoming environment where they develop vital motor, sport, and social skills. 

Families, schools, and communities also benefit from these joyful inclusive experiences. When children and youth with intellectual disabilities are included and celebrated, everyone wins!

By providing early access to vital motor, sport, and social skill development, Special Olympics BC Youth Programs equip children and young people with intellectual disabilities to succeed in sports throughout their lives, and build important motor and social skills that benefit every aspect of their lives.

Programs are run by trained Special Olympics BC volunteers in communities, and by schools seeking to offer opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities and strengthen inclusion school-wide. 

Special Olympics BC provides ready-made resource packages – including lesson plans, equipment, and leader training opportunities – that make it easy and fun to launch new programs.

New athletes with intellectual volunteers, families, and volunteers are always welcome to get involved to change lives, including their own!

A young boy with intellectual disabilities sits on the gym floor next to another child, smiling while holding a blue rubber ball.
Children with intellectual disabilities ages 2 to 11
Many children with intellectual disabilities feel left behind or isolated in traditional sport and activity programs. In Special Olympics, they belong and thrive. In the Special Olympics BC Active Start and FUNdamentals programs running in communities around the province, children and youth with intellectual disabilities ages two to 11 learn vital motor, sport, and social skills in a fun and welcoming environment. Special Olympics BC offers two low-cost programs designed to help children with intellectual disabilities to develop motor and sport skills through fun and positive experiences in supportive environments. The programs can be offered in communities and in schools.
“They love showing their talents and abilities, and I feel the coaches and volunteers have just as much fun. To see the smiles, accomplishment, and confidence when they succeed is so fulfilling.”
Special Olympics BC Youth Program leader Lana

Communities offering Active Start & FUNdamentals in 2025-26:

Programs will be added to this list as details are finalized. Please check back for additional communities to be included in the 2025-26 list. 

Students stand with a Unified Champion School banner.
Youth with intellectual disabilities ages 12 to 18
Special Olympics BC Unified Sports® bring together students with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together and represent their school. Special Olympics Unified Sports offer competition, connection, and fun ways to build skills and inclusion. Special Olympics BC Unified Sports enable every student to become part of their school's social fabric. Every student can help create a more inclusive environment! Special Olympics BC Unified Sports benefit not just athletes but the whole school.
"Special Olympics Unified Sports has meant the world to my son. He loves being part of a team. He really enjoys that sense of coming together, and he's been really, really happy doing it."
Special Olympics BC Unified Sports parent Patricia

SOBC Youth Programs supported by