Become an Athlete

Are you ready to take on an exciting new challenge, take your sports-game to the next level, and meet friends along the way? Then Special Olympics Ontario - Ottawa (SO  Ottawa) is the right place for you.

SO Ottawa offers sports program for athletes who have intellectual disabilities. While most of our programs are open for athletes ages 13+, we do offer the Active Start, FUNdamentals, and Youth Multisport (13-21+) programs that have been specially designed for younger athletes!

Special Olympics Ontario community programs provide athletes with far more than just the physical benefits of sport - Special Olympics changes lives.

With the opportunities to excel and have fun come the benefits of improved health and self-image. For many athletes, participating in SO Ottawa is a path to healthy living, empowerment, acceptance and friendship. We are dedicated to increasing physical fitness, confidence, and other sport and life skills of our athletes; all in a positive and supportive environment.

Please visit the Programs section to find out more about the programs we offer, including what to expect! 

Two Step Registration to Becoming an Athlete
There are two (2) steps to becoming an athlete! Every athlete must complete both steps to participate in SO Ottawa programs!

Important: Registering with Special Olympics Ontario in Step 1 does not register an athlete for an Ottawa sport program. Athletes must also complete Step 2 during the April or August SO Ottawa program registration period. 

Step 1: Register with SOO (athlete profile only)

 
Athletes who are new to Special Olympics Ontario should click on the below button to register as an athlete with Special Olympics Ontario. This step makes sure that athletes are officially registered with our provincial organization and makes sure that they agree to the Athlete Code of Conduct, understand expectations of being an athlete, have an athlete registration number, can participate in or advance to competitions (as applicable), and are covered in the event of an accident. There is no fee required for this step. If you have already participated in community programs or School Champs in Special Olympics Ontario, you probably do not need to do this step again.

This step creates or confirms the athlete’s provincial SOO profile only. It does not select an Ottawa program, enter the athlete into an Ottawa registration lottery, or reserve an Ottawa program spot.

After Step 1 is complete, please return to this page and complete Step 2 during the correct Ottawa program registration period.

In order to participate as an athlete with Special Olympics Ontario, you must:

• • be eight years of age or older* (does not apply to Active Start or Fundamentals)

  • have an intellectual disability

  • agree to read and abide by the SOC Sports Rules and the Special Olympics Ontario's policies and procedures

* Please note some programs may have age requirements

After completing Step 1, return to this page to complete Step 2. Step 1 alone does not register an athlete for an Ottawa program.

Register for Step 1 (SOO)

Step 2: Register for SO Ottawa programs
Athletes who have completed their registration as an athlete with Special Olympics Ontario can register for SO Ottawa community programs.  This is the step that signs an athlete up for Ottawa programs during an open registration period.

 
SO Ottawa has two program season, each with one month for registration:

• • Spring/Summer Program Season - athletes can register for these programs between 1-30 April

  • Fall/Winter Program Season - athletes can register for these programs between 1-31 August

To register for any program in SO Ottawa, athletes

Information about registering for our programs can be found on our homepage at ottawa.specialolympicsontario.ca/home during the listed registration dates (see above for each season). Information about registration is also communicated on our social media platforms. This is separate from the Step 1 SOO athlete portal.

Registration for our programs can be done online or by mail. SO Ottawa no longer offers an in-person option for registration. Payment is required at the time of registration.

Please note that due to the overwhelming popularity and high demand for our programming, registration for SO Ottawa programs is conducted using a lottery system. This means that not everyone who signs up is guaranteed a spot in a program. Athletes are not entered into the Ottawa lottery or waitlist process unless they complete Step 2.

More information about our registration policy, including the lottery, can be found online here. Following the registration lottery (normally done 1-2 weeks after registration closes), Program Leads will reach out to all athletes to let them know if they were successful in getting a spot in the program(s) they signed up for. Any athlete who does not get a spot will be offered a spot on a waitlist. Any athlete who does not get into a program during the lottery or from a waitlist will be issued a full refund for the cost of registration.

In order to participate as an athlete with Special Olympics Ontario - Ottawa, you must:

• • Meet the age requirements specific to each the program

  • Meet the skill/ability requirements specific to each program (as applicable)

  • have an intellectual disability

  • be registered as an athlete with Special Olympics Ontario

  • agree to read and abide by the SOC Sports Rules and the Special Olympics Ontario's policies and procedures

Register for Step 2 (SO Ottawa) 

Already Registered as an Athlete?

If the athlete already has an SOO athlete profile, they may not need to complete Step 1 again. They still need to complete Step 2 during the April or August registration period to sign up for SO Ottawa programs.

Please visit the Sport Programs section to find out the programs we offer.

If the registration day has already passed please contact athlete_registrar@specialolympicsottawa.ca to see if there is still space in the program.