Special Olympics / Unified Sports 

Special Olympics/Unified Sports New Jersey

Mission: To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Unified Sports promotes Social Inclusion: 

Unified sports bring together individuals with and without disabilities to participate in the same team, fostering social interaction and creating opportunities for developing friendships. This helps combat feelings of isolation that individuals with disabilities may experience as they get to be part of a supportive community.

Unified sports build Empathy and Understanding: By participating in unified sports, people without disabilities gain firsthand experience working alongside their peers with different abilities. This helps build empathy, understanding, and acceptance towards individuals with disabilities, breaking down stereotypes and promoting inclusivity.