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Unified Sports

Special Olympics Unified Sports® joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.

About Unified

Social Inclusion Through Sport

Special Olympics Unified Sports® is a model that promotes social inclusion by joining individuals with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. This program is founded on the simple yet powerful principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendships and understanding. Unified Sports serves as a transformative platform for breaking down barriers, fostering greater acceptance, and empowering individuals through the power of school sports. 

Unified in Alberta

Building inclusive school communities for young people of all abilities.

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About Unified

What is Unified Sports?

Unified Sports teams include approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and partners without intellectual disabilities of similar ages and abilities. This ensures that all participants are recognized as equal contributors, both on and off the playing field. Through this shared experience, participants develop a sense of belonging, learn to interact meaningfully with others, and form lasting, mutually rewarding relationships. 

Looking ahead, Unified Sports aims to expand its provincial reach and impact, inspiring more communities to embrace inclusion and equality through sports. By continuing to innovate and adapt to the diverse needs of participants, Unified Sports will remain a driving force in creating a world where everyone’s abilities are valued and celebrated. Currently in Alberta; Basketball, Bocce, Bean Bag Toss and Track & Field have been the four main sports at which a Unified Team competes in, but we hope to continue the expansion and adaptation of any sport. The program aspires to unite even more people, fostering connections and building a more inclusive future through the power of sport. 

Partnership

Unified Partnership

In Alberta, the Unified Sport program is delivered through a partnership between the Alberta Schools' Athletic Association (ASAA) and Special Olympics Alberta. Since launching in 2015, this collaboration has expanded Unified Sports to over 70 schools across the province. By combining the ASAA’s school sport infrastructure with Special Olympics Alberta’s inclusion expertise, the program fosters meaningful connections, respect, and a sense of belonging for all students through the power of sport.