Through Unified Sports comes Unity.

The Special Olympics Unified Sports® program combines equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and athletes without mental retardation (called Partners) on sports teams.

The concept of combining athletes with mental retardation and those without was introduced in the mid-1980s to provide new challenges to athletes of higher ability, and to promote equality and inclusion. Today, Unified Sports is conducted locally, statewide and at international competitions.

Unified Sports enables athletes to:

		Learn new sports; develop higher-level sports skills
		Have new competitive experiences
		Experience meaningful inclusion
		Socialize with peers and form friendships
		Participate in their communities and have choices outside of Special Olympics