Special Olympics Switzerland is a national foundation that has been working in this country since 1995 to ensure that children, adolescents, and adults with cognitive impairments have access to sports and exercise. As part of the worldwide Special Olympics movement – active in over 190 countries – we promote inclusion and participation through the power of sport.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create an inclusive world through the power of sport, where people with intellectual disabilities can lead active, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
What We Do
- Sports promotion: We organize around 70 competitions annually in over 20 sports, from regional training to the National Games.
- International Competitions: We enable delegations to participate in the Special Olympics World Games – one of the world’s largest sporting events.
- Training and support: We train coaches and supervisors so that athletes can be supported in the best possible way.
- Inclusive Programs: Through initiatives such as Unified Sports or Discovery Days, we create sustainable exercise opportunities and encounters.
- Health promotion: Through the Health program, we improve the physical and social-emotional well-being of people with intellectual disabilities and effectively integrate them into health, care and wellness systems.
Our Structure
Special Olympics Switzerland is an independent national foundation headquartered in the Haus des Sports in Ittigen near Bern and other offices in Tenero and Zurich. Our team works closely with sports clubs, schools, institutions, volunteers, families and partner organizations to make sport accessible to all.
Part of a Global Movement
Special Olympics was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy-Shriver and has been recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 1988. Today, the movement includes over 3.6 million athletes, hundreds of thousands of coaches and millions of volunteers worldwide.