Incorporated on February 28, 1980, Special Olympics Alberta has built a tradition of support and opportunity for people in Alberta with intellectual disabilities. In 1980, the organization hosted its first Provincial Summer Games.

Parents and families of athletes have been the driving force behind the Special Olympics movement around the world and the same is true in Alberta. Parents who wanted sport opportunities for their children started the first programs in many communities. The first Special Olympics programs were started by dedicated parents and volunteers in Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge and Red Deer even before a provincial organization was founded.

In 1986, Alberta took center stage, hosting our first Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Calgary. Over 1,000 athletes and coaches from across Canada were welcomed with cheering fans in McMahon Stadium. The flame of hope carried by over 12,000 Canadians across the country ignited not just the beginning of competition but an impassioned movement in Alberta. Today we serve over 3,000 athletes across the province.