International / National Listings

Every other year, Special Olympics hosts an international competition similar to the Olympic Games.  From October 2-11, 2007, Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) will send sixteen athletes and seven coaches to Shanghai, China to participate in the World Summer Games.  To learn more about the next international event, go to 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.  In 2009, the World Winter Games will be held in Boise, Idaho. 

In July 2006 , Special Olympics North America held the first National Games in Ames, Iowa.  SOPA sent 85 athletes and 29 coaches in twelve sports to this inaugural event.  The next National Summer Games are expected to be held in 2010 with the location to be determined.

In order to qualify for International or National Games, athletes are selected from the prior year's state-level competition.  In order to qualify for a higher-level competition, athletes apply prior to the respective State Games then compete in the state-level competition in the sport in which they are applying. Athletes will then be randomly drawn for selection based on the allocations that Pennsylvania has secured.  Gold medalists in any event in the respective sport are given first priority for selection followed by silver medalists, bronze medalists and so on. 

Athletes for the 2007 World Summer Games were chosen from qualifying medalists at the 2005 Fall Festival and the 2006 Summer Games.  Athletes for the 2009 World Winter Games will be chosen from qualifying athletes at the 2008 SOPA State Winter Games in the sports in which we have allocations.

In addition, SOPA athletes and coaches are invited and encouraged to attend other Special Olympics invitationals and games in other states and with other organizations.  For more information on possible competitions, contact Bruce Volstad, Western Competition Director.