Carolyn Voelker competed in Cross Country Skiing in Nagano, Japan during the 2005 World Winter Games.

"Special Olympics helped me meet new people, make new friends and go out and have fun! I get to go out and do things to make me happy and keep me healthy. I like to help other athletes and give them support when they compete, cheer them on when they are competing and give them advice to help them do better. Special Olympics has also let me travel around the world to compete"

Carolyn Voelker
Special Olympics Wisconsin athlete

About Us

Special Olympics Wisconsin
Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) is a statewide organization providing persons with cognitive disabilities year-round sports training and competition. Individuals who are at least eight years old and are identified as having a cognitive disability are eligible for participation.

With seven Area offices throughout the state, Special Olympics Wisconsin serves nearly 10,000 athletes in nearly 189 communities statewide. SOWI is one of the 50 state programs and one of nearly 200 countries providing this opportunity to more than one million athletes worldwide.

Mission

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

More Information

• Board of Directors
• History of Special Olympics world-wide and in Wisconsin
• Facts on Cognitive Disabilities
• E-mail Newsletters
• Contact Us

The Facts:

• Athletes: nearly 10,000
• Average Age of Athletes: 30
• Registered Local Agencies: 189
• Competitions Statewide: 79
• Certified Coaches: 1,347
• Volunteers: 14,449

Sports Offered:

• Alpine Skiing
• Aquatics (swimming)
• Athletics (track & field)
• Basketball
• Bocce
• Bowling
• Cross Country Skiing
• Cycling
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Powerlifting
• Snowboarding
• Snowshoeing
• Soccer
• Softball and Tee Ball
• Speedskating
• Tennis
• Volleyball

State Competitions Held:

• Summer Games
• Outdoor Sports Tournament
• Indoor Sports Tournament
• Fall Sports Tournament
• Winter Games

Statewide Fund raisers:

• Law Enforcement Torch Run®
• Polar Plunge®
• World's Largest Truck Convoy®
• Du Run Run Children's Duathlon

Contribution Sources:

2008 Financial Statement
2007 Financial Statement
2006 Financial Statement
2005 Financial Statement
2004 Financial Statement

Special Olympics Initiatives

• Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs) train athletes to serve in meaningful leadership roles outside that of "competitor." They offer athletes opportunities to participate as partners in all aspects of the Special Olympics movement in Wisconsin.
  

• Healthy Athletes Program is aimed at improving, through better health and fitness, each athlete's ability to train and compete in Special Olympics. It provides basic health-care screenings and testing to Special Olympics athletes at no cost.

AmeriCorps Outreach Assistants Thanks to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WDPI) receiving a grant through the Corporation for National and Community Service, Mila Holcombe, SOWI athlete & Americorps Member is helping Special Olympics Wisconsin reach our goal of reaching 10,000 more athletes.

Research

As part of the Strategic Research and Evaluation Plan, Special Olympics Inc. (SOI) has conducted several studies concerning the population that Special Olympics serves and society's attitudes towards them. View Special Olympics Research Studies.

 

For more information about Special Olympics Wisconsin contact the Program Office at 800/552-1324 or e-mail info@specialolympicswisconsin.org.