Dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals in Greater Ottawa with intellectual disabilities through the power of sport

Special Olympics Ontario (SOO) is a volunteer driven organization with over 20,000 athletes and 10,000 volunteers registered across the province. Athletes can participate from 8 years of age and have the opportunity to train in 19 core sports offered in the Ottawa Area. Active start and FUNdamentals programs are available for athletes starting at age 2.

SOO - Ottawa has over 1000 registered athletes and volunteers participating in community sport programs. Every facet of our community is dedicated to enriching the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

What's New

The Nepean Sharks would like to extend their gratitude to the Jumpstart program. Jumpstart assists families across Canada in overcoming financial barriers to sport and play. With their generous support, the Sharks will be practicing at the Nepean Sportsplex pool from 8:00 am to 9:45 am on Saturdays and Sundays. This season, the Sharks will train to compete in swim meets in Ottawa, Brockville, Arnprior and Montreal.

Jumpstart believes in the power of community and has supported the training of Sharks swim coaches in the RESPECT in sport, a safe sport training program. Our roster of dedicated Sharks volunteers coach Athletes each week from September to May.

Watch the Sharks keep active during the year in the Photo Gallery section of this web-site. You will see photos of the Athletes and Coaches in Action.

To learn more about jumpstart visit: jumpstart.canadiantire.ca.

Spring/Summer 2025 Sports Registration

Initial registration for Spring/Summer 2025 programs is now closed. Coaches will be contacting anyone who registered before the planned start date.

For athletes who were successfully registered through the lottery:

Coaches will be in contact with you to confirm successful registration and provide you with program details. This includes:

start date,
times,
location, and
any other expectations such as what to wear and bring

For athletes who were not successfully registered through the lottery:

Coaches will contact you to confirm that you have not been entered into the program yet. The coach will let you know if your name has been added to a waitlist and information about refunds.

Anyone registering after April 30th will be placed on a waitlist and not eligible for entry through the lottery. As most of our programs reached capacity through the initial registration period, athletes who missed the deadline are encouraged to email the respective program coach before registering. Those wishing to proceed with registration for the waitlist can do so online. Payment will not be required unless you are specifically notified by a member of the Special Olympics Ottawa Community Council or the Head Coach.

Online - via https://soocommunity.crowdchange.ca/3717
1. Payment options: credit card, visa debit, Google pay
2. Please register one athlete at a time
3. Important: Please save your receipt when it is mailed to you. Receipts are mailed directly to the email provided at registration.

Spring/Summer Sport Programs:

See our registration FAQs and Registration Form: Ottawa - Forms and Resources

New for coaches

Quick Reference Cards for Coaches and Team Managers.pdf

Participant Waiver Media Opt Out Form Updated Dec 1 2021.pdf

Summer Registration Form -2025.docx

Volunteer With Us

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!

Stay Connected

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Tips, tricks and challenges to help you connect with your friends, coaches and Special Olympics while practicing social distancing.

Stay Active

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Virtual activities and challenges you can do to stay active and fit from home!

Stay Positive

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Tools and resources to maintain the mental health of the Special Olympics community.

Stay Informed

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Information to help you understand COVID-19 and help you stay safe.

Your donations go a long way!

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.

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