50 Game Changers

Hannah and Daina found common ground through their passion for snowboarding and continue to grow their bond as they advocate for inclusion within the sport.

For Bree Bogucki, growing up was anything but easy. She grew up isolated, locking herself in her room. At nine-years-old, Bree was introduced to sports and her life was changed forever.

Unified Sports was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding for athletes with and without intellectual disabilities.

At the age of seven, Kester Edwards was run over by a bicycle that put him in a coma for weeks and changed his life forever. For years Kester was taunted and bullied for having an intellectual disability, but he found joy and purpose through sports with Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago.

Loretta Claiborne went from being non-verbal to becoming the voice of the Special Olympics movement.

Kellis High School is one of many Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools that are transforming the lives of students with and without intellectual disabilities through whole school inclusive programming.

For more than 30 years, the biggest names in music, artists like U2, Run-D.M.C., and Madonna have contributed to the “A Very Special Christmas” album series, the most successful benefit recording in history.

In September 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and left many without homes, electricity, or the means to survive. SO Puerto staff, athletes, and families of Special Olympics Puerto Rico came together to support one another as the island slowly recovered from the damage.