Reach

“Do not hide your special children. They are part of us, and denying them play, exposure and association is violating their basic human rights.”

Special Olympics is a grass-roots movement with global reach – stretching to over 165 countries across seven geographical regions. Under the experienced Chairmanship of Dr Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics, Inc. is today recognized as the lead in the field of intellectual disability. 2.5 million athletes reached. 2.5 million lives changed.

Special Olympics Africa

Special Olympics was initiated in the Africa region in 1979 with the founding of the Special Olympics Kenya. Today Special Olympics Kenya accounts for 25% of the regions athletes.
Special Olympics Africa comprises 32 programs in Southern, Eastern and West Africa and currently accounts for more than 81 000 athletes. Economic, infrastructural and political difficulties in many countries sometimes hinder growth but they fail to affect the autonomy and consistently high quality opportunities afforded Special Olympics athletes in the region.
Under the leadership of Regional Managing Director, Dr John Dow Jr., six programs were highlighted in 2005 for the potential of their leadership to grow and improve the quality of their programs and they did not disappoint. Today these six programs account for 80% of the athletes in the region.

Special Olympics Africa provide support to accredited programs through their regional office as well as staff spread throughout the region.

Special Olympics Africa Programs

Benin
Burkina Faso
Botswana
Cameroon
Chad
Congo (Brazzaville)
Cote D’Ivoire
Democratic Republic of Congo
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mali
Mauritius
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Reunion
Rwanda
Senegal
Seychelles
South Africa
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe