Special Olympics offers many track and field events, including the hurdle events, marathon, high jump, long jump, shot put, relays and wheelchair events. In addition, Special Olympics offers events for lower ability level athletes to train and compete in basic athletics skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to longer competitive events.
In addition to traditional events, athletes can participate in Unified Sports® relay events. Unified Sports® is a program that assigns Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) to the same teams for training and competition. On a Unified relay team, a team consists of two Special Olympics athletes and two partners.
As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to events, ability level, age and gender.
Track Events
- 25 and 50 Meter – Dash and Walk
- 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 Meter – Run and Walk
- 4 x 100 Traditional and Unified Relays
The following events provide meaningful competition for athletes with lower ability levels:
- 10 Meter Walk – Device or Physical Assistance
- 25 Meter Walk – Device or Physical Assistance
- 25 Meter Dash – Physical Assistance
- 50 Meter Walk – Device or Physical Assistance
- 50 Meter Dash – Physical Assistance
Field Events
- High Jump
- Running Long Jump (1 Meter minimum)
- Shot Put
The following events provide meaningful competition for athletes with lower ability levels:
- Tennis Ball Throw (15 Meter maximum)
- Softball Throw (15 Meter maximum)
- Standing Long Jump
Multi-Event
- Pentathlon (100 Meter Run, Running Long Jump, Shot Put, High Jump, 400 Meter Run)
Wheelchair Events
- 10 Meter Wheelchair
- 25, 50 and 100 Meter Wheelchair and Motorized Wheelchair
- 25 Meter Motorized Wheelchair Obstacle
- 30 and 50 Meter Wheelchair Slalom
- 30 and 50 Meter Motorized Slalom
Handbook & Rules
2019 Track and Field Handbook
Special Olympics Incorporated Rules
Other Resources
National Governing Body: International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)
Track & Field Instruction
Unified Sports
- Track and field was an event at the first Special Olympics International Games held in Chicago, Illinois in 1968.
- Track and field is the most popular Special Olympics Minnesota sport, with 131 delegations participating in 2004.