Whatcom County
North Whatcom Special Olympics program began in 1991 for children and adults with intellectual disabilities who loved sports and wanted a challenge of competing with their peers. We currently run the program year round offering competition in six sports: Basketball, Speed/Figure Skating, Athletics (track & field), Aquatics, Soccer, Softball, and Bowling. Our goal is to provide a program of physical fitness with an emphasis on sportsmanship, friendships, and FUN!
Become an Athlete
Join Special Olympics Washington and be the best you can be! Follow the listed steps below to become a Special Olympics Washington Athlete. Please feel free to contact Special Olympics Washington if you have any additional questions (Link to Contact Page)
Step 1: Submit an Athlete Interest Form (Must use linked form)
Step 2: Complete, sign and return the Application for Participation document (AFP)
Athletes Application for Participation (Spanish)...coming soon
Step 3: Complete the Athlete Medical & Release forms
Step 4: Begin the adventure of a lifetime!
Who is eligible?
To be eligible to participate in Special Olympics, athletes must:
Be at least 8 years old (Children ages 2 1/2 to 7 are eligible to participate in the Young Athletes Program).
Have a current Medical and Consent Form on file.
Identified by an agency or professional as having one of the following conditions: intellectual disability; a cognitive delay as determined by standardized measures such as intelligence quotient or other generally accepted measures; or a closely related development disability, i.e., functional limitations in both general learning and adaptive skills.
What is the definition of intellectual disability?
According to the World Health Organization:
Intellectual disability is a condition of arrested or incomplete development of the mind characterized by impairment of skills and overall intelligence in areas such as cognition, language, and motor and social abilities.
Intellectual disability can occur with or without any other physical or mental disorders. Although reduced level of intellectual functioning is the characteristic feature of this disorder, the diagnosis is made only if it is associated with a diminished ability to adapt to the daily demands of the normal social environment.
****Special Note: For coach listings for each sport please visit the website and click on the "Full Coaches Directory" pdf file for a complete listing of coaches in the local area for each sport. Northwest coaches page: http://www.specialolympicswashington.org/sowa/coaches/find_a_coach/northwest