About SONH

The mission of Special Olympics New Hampshire is 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.

Five Decades of Empowerment

The Special Olympics New Hampshire mission remains as vital today as it did when the movement was founded fifty years ago. Special Olympics strives to create a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people.

Through the power of sports, people with intellectual disabilities discover new strengths, abilities, skills and find success. Our athletes find joy, confidence and fulfillment — on the playing field and in life. They inspire their communities to open their hearts to a wider world of human talents and potential.

There are as many as 40,000 people with intellectual disabilities in New Hampshire and our goal is to reach out to every one of them, as well and their families. We do this through a wide range of trainings, competitions, health screenings and fundraising events. We also create opportunities for families, community members, local leaders, businesses, law enforcement, celebrities, dignitaries and others to band together to change attitudes and support athletes.

The Power to Transform Lives

The transformative power of sports to instill confidence, improve health and inspire a sense of competition is at the core of what Special Olympics does. From the detailed coaching guides to the sharp-eyed officials at our games, the focus is on real sports, real competition and real achievements. In Special Olympics, the power and joy of sports shifts focus to what our athletes CAN do, not what they can’t. Attention to disabilities fades away. Instead, we see our athletes’ talents and abilities and applaud them for it. And they are doing a lot — from basketball to powerlifting to sprint triathlon. With our 17 Olympic-style sports, we offer adults and children with intellectual disabilities many ways to be involved in their communities and to show who they really are.