Special Olympics Ontario (SOO) is a volunteer-driven organization with over 20,000 athletes and 10,000 volunteers registered across the province.
In the Ottawa area, programs run year-round, almost every day of the week, and take place in schools, community centres, parks, and sports facilities throughout the city. Special Olympics Ottawa is a community of over 500 athletes and more than 300 volunteers, offering more than 30 programs across 25 sports.
We welcome athletes as young as 2 years old, beginning with Active Start and FUNdamentals, where children build basic movement skills and confidence through play. As athletes grow, they can participate in Youth Multisport (ages 13–21), where they explore a variety of sports and continue developing their abilities.
At the heart of Special Olympics Ottawa are our core sport programs, aimed toward athletes 13 and older find their potential through meaningful training and competition!
Every facet of our community is dedicated to enriching the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through sport.
We still have a few spots open in some of our Spring/Summer 2026 programs. While general registration is now closed, you can still sign up for select programs on a first-come, first-served basis using the link below.
If you register at this time, please wait to hear from the Head Coach or Team Manager before reaching out. They will contact you with details about program dates, times, and locations. They will also share important information about what to bring, what to wear, and what to expect.
If you have not heard from the Head Coach or Team Manager within one week of registering, please email athlete_registrar@specialolympicsottawa.ca.
Exciting changes are happening this year as SO Ottawa continues working to improve availability of our programs!
Some highlights for this summer include:
🏃♂️ Athletics (Track & Field) – We have moved to new nights and new sites! This program is always in high demand, and we have increased availability by offering two streams (for athletes aged 13–21 and athletes aged 22+). Beginning this season, the 13-21 program will be offered Friday nights at the Terry Fox Athletics Facility; the 22+ program will be offered Monday nights at Bell High School!
🏓 Pickleball – Building on the popularity of this sport and the success of last year’s pilot, we are excited to introduce a second pickleball program, now offered in Kemptville on Saturdays.
🤸 Youth Programs – This summer, we are offering two youth program options to support year-round participation for younger athletes. Athletes aged 7–12 can register for FUNdamentals, while those aged 13–21 can take part in Youth Multisport—an engaging program designed to expose participants to a variety of sports. This experience helps athletes discover their interests, build on their strengths, and develop the confidence and skills that foster a lifelong love of sport.
🥎 Softball – Athletes are encouraged to register for the program (Explorers or Trailblazers) that best matches their abilities. More information to help guide this selection can be found here.
Ways to register:
Registration is available ONLINE only - via https://soocommunity.crowdchange.ca/3717
Payment options: Credit Card, Visa Debit, Google Pay
Please register one athlete at a time
Important: Please save your receipt when it is mailed to you. Receipts are mailed directly to the email provided at registration. The club treasurer may not have access to receipts.
Did you know that if you are eligible for funding through Passport Ontario you may be able to submit a claim for your Special Olympics registration fees? Please check out the Service Ontario website for more information about the Passport program. Note that Special Olympics Ottawa does not facilitate funding or claims.
Space may still be available in the following Sport Programs:
Please note that athletes who are successful with registration will be contacted by their coach to confirm registration, start date / time / location / any special instructions!
See our registration FAQs and Registration Form: Ottawa - Forms and Resources
We're looking for some awesome volunteers to join the SOO - Ottawa family! There are a variety of volunteer positions to choose from. Check out how you can volunteer with us.
Click below for resources, tips and ideas to stay healthy from home!
Tips, tricks and challenges to help you connect with your friends, coaches and Special Olympics while practicing social distancing.
Virtual activities and challenges you can do to stay active and fit from home!
Tools and resources to maintain the mental health of the Special Olympics community.
Information to help you understand COVID-19 and help you stay safe.
Special Olympics Ontario - Ottawa supports more than 650 athletes with intellectual disabilities. We're dedicated to enriching the lives of Ottawans with an intellectual disability through sport by promoting respect, acceptance, inclusion and human dignity. Our athletes have competed at the local, provincial, national and world levels, and this wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our community.