Journey to 2027 Special Olympics BC Winter Games underway

May 24, 2026

Skills, team spirit, and the joy of sport were on full display in the 2026 Special Olympics BC Winter Regional Qualifiers! Held between January and April, these regional competitions in the eight Special Olympics BC winter sports involved more than 1,100 athletes.

These Regional Qualifiers gave athletes with intellectual disabilities the chance to challenge themselves, feel the joy of being part of a team, and seek to qualify for spots in the 2027 Special Olympics BC Winter Games.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of volunteers, families, sponsors, and supporters, 28 Regional Qualifiers were hosted in 22 communities, to give empowering competition experiences to athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities in all parts of the province. Athletes competed in 5-pin bowling, alpine skiing, cross country skiing, curling, figure skating, floorball, snowshoeing, and speed skating.

Watch the video recap and find more Regional Qualifier highlights below!

“I loved it. I like hearing when I did a trick and everybody clapped. It made me feel good. It was my first competition so it was a little bit scary, but it was good.”

Kayla Stapley, Region 2 figure skating competitor

“I like to compete and travel and meet other people. I like competing with other athletes and trying our best so we can qualify for provincials, nationals, and internationals. It’s important for us to get to compete, so we can go out there and try our best, and so everyone can see what Special Olympics athletes can do.”

David Johnston, Region 8 curling competitor and Athlete Reporter

“The best part of competition is seeing how much fun all the athletes are having and how dedicated to doing their best they are. The true sportsmanship in our athletes is seen by all and several volunteers today told me how impressed they were with this trait in our athletes. Well done!”

Tina Giesbrecht, coach and organizer of the Region 7 Snowshoeing Regional Qualifier

What comes next after Regional Qualifiers?

The 2026 SOBC Winter Regional Qualifiers are our province’s first step in the current Special Olympics Games cycle for winter sports. They are the qualifying events for the 2027 Special Olympics BC Winter Games.

The 2027 Provincial Winter Games are the qualifier for the 2028 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games, which are set to be held in Kelowna.

The 2028 SOC Winter Games will be the first National Winter Games hosted in B.C. They bring national competition back to our province following the 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games held in Vancouver.

The 2028 SOC Winter Games are the national qualifier for the 2029 Special Olympics World Winter Games, set to be held in Switzerland.

What’s the next step for the 2027 Special Olympics BC Winter Games?

More announcements will come soon about the 2027 Special Olympics BC Winter Games! Right now, the excitement is starting to build our Regional teams, based on the outstanding athlete performances in Regional Qualifiers and upcoming coach and mission staff applications!

Today we want to introduce the incredible volunteers who have stepped forward to lead their Regional teams to the 2027 SOBC Winter Games experience! Meet the 2027 SOBC Winter Games Chefs de Mission:

Region 1: Joanne Thom
Region 2: Jamie Carpenter & Ben Whiles
Region 3: Noah Musgrave & Daria Ungurean
Region 4: Phoebe Lau
Region 5: Cora Siytangco
Region 6: Jason Yan
Region 7: Gale Jones
Region 8: Steve Oliver

A warm round of applause and heartfelt thanks to these dedicated volunteer leaders!

Regional Qualifier participation and results are currently being reviewed to build Regional team selection, using Special Olympics sport policies. Athletes, please stay tuned for word to come from your Chef de Mission, Local Committees, and coaches!

Regional teams are now accepting coach and mission staff applications from the amazing coaches and volunteers who participated in Regional Qualifiers and want to help give athletes the empowering experience of being part of Provincial Games!

These roles are integral in supporting athletes at Provincial Games and ensuring athletes and Regional teams have a successful and memorable experience. If you want to share in the joy and excitement, please consider applying by May 31, 2026.

Please contact sportdevelopment@specialolympics.bc.ca with any questions.

Coaches can also apply for the volunteer Provincial Sport Technical Advisor roles at the 2027 SOBC Winter Games. In this position, you will support the SOBC Sport staff, Sport Technical Manager, and Venue Manager in advising the competition for your specific sport.

Please contact coach@specialolympics.bc.ca with any questions.

Heartfelt thanks to everyone contributing to empowering athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities in provincial competitions! Stay tuned for more 2027 Special Olympics BC Winter Games news to come!

What’s going on in Special Olympics summer sports competitions?

Special Olympics BC summer sports programs are happening right now in 55 communities across the province. Every season, athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities get opportunities to compete locally or regionally in their sports.

To be able to compete, you need to be registered and participating in year-round Special Olympics BC programs. Check out the SOBC events calendar to learn more about the many upcoming events!

In the Special Olympics Games cycle for summer sports, we’re gearing up for the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, which will be held in Medicine Hat, Alberta, from August 11 to 15.

Members of the Special Olympics Team BC 2026 Training Squad are working hard in communities across the province to show their skills in national competition! They earned their places on the provincial team through the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games in Prince George, after competing in Regional Qualifiers in 2024.

The 2026 SOC Games are the national qualifier for the 2027 Special Olympics World Summer Games, set to be held in Santiago, Chile, in October 2027.

Good luck and thanks to everyone involved in the Special Olympics Games journey!