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Athlete

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 "

Carolyn Voelker
Special Olympics Wisconsin athlete

About Us

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 Regional offices throughout the state, Special Olympics Wisconsin serves nearly 10,000 athletes in nearly 189 communities statewide. SOWI is one of the 52 state programs and one of nearly 200 countries providing this opportunity to nearly 3.7 million athletes around the world.

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.

At a Glance

  • Athletes: nearly 10,000
  • Average Age of Athletes: 30
  • Registered Local Agencies: 189
  • Competitions Statewide: 137
  • Certified Coaches: 1,319
  • Volunteers: 14,000

Guiding Values

  • Mutual Respect
  • Positive Attitude
  • Accountability
  • Teamwork
  • Dedication

Special Olympics does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, nationality, origin or political philosophy.

More Information

Sports Offered:

Statewide Fund raisers:

Financial Information

Visit our Financial Information web page for contribution sources and audited statements

Special Olympics Wisconsin Privacy Policy

Organizational Accomplishments and Goals

2010 Accomplishments

  • Provided nearly 2,200 health screenings and exams in 7 areas through Healthy Athletes.

  • Registered 20 communities to run the Young Athletes Program.

  • Split State Fall Sports Tournament bowling competition into Northern and Southern events to better accommodate local program travel.

  • Established a set of rules for flag football and hosted 2 informational clinics.

  • Added an additional level of regional basketball involving coordination of 3 new competitions.

  • Trained, outfitted and coordinated a delegation of 64 athletes and 20 coaches to the 2nd US National Special Olympics games in Lincoln, Nebraska.

  • Held 92 fundraising events in 2010 raising over $2 million dollars in revenue.

  • Held a new major fundraising event, Over the Edge, in Madison & Milwaukee.

  • Statewide rollout of Agency Centralized Accounting for local Agencies.

  • Relocation of the Program Headquarters office and Fox Valley Region office.

  • Sent two high school athletes and two peer partners to the National Youth Activation Summit and two middle school teachers to the National Education Conference in Omaha, Nebraska held in conjunction with National Games

2011 Goals

  • Increase the Young Athletes Initiative by introducing children ages 2 – 7 and their families to the world of Special Olympics

  • Wisconsin will send 2 athletes to the 2011 World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.

  • Increase the opportunities for Special Olympics athletes to receive health screenings.

  • Hold annual leadership conference for Special Olympics Wisconsin stakeholders - first conference since 2005.

  • Recruit a second location to host a Camp Shriver

  • Create a Statewide Youth Activation Summit.

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, Americorps Member Rebecca Masephol is helping Special Olympics Wisconsin reach students with our Spread the Word to End the Word activities.

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.

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For more information about Special Olympics Wisconsin contact Special Olympics Wisconsin Headquarters at (800) 552-1324 (608) 222-1324 or e-mail info@specialolympicswisconsin.org.