Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of sports for children and adults with mental disabilities in order to create continuing opportunities for them to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience the joy of achievement, be included in the community, build skills and make friends.

Persons are eligible to participate in Special Olympics provided that they are at least eight years old and have been identified by an agency or professional as having a mental disability or have closely related developmental disabilities such as those who have functional limitations both in general learning and in adaptive skill such as recreation, work, independent living, self-direction or self-care. People with functional limitations based solely on a physical, behavioral, emotional, specific learning disability, or sensory disability are not eligible. Special Olympics does not determine whether or not a person has a mental handicap, but determines eligibility based on the identification made by an agency or a professional.

A medical form and a registration form (Application for Participation) are required for participation in Special Olympics.