Special Olympics vs. Paralympics

Athletes at the Special Olympics and Paralympics.

By:  Bennett Hara

The Paralympics and Special Olympics often get confused with one another. Here is a chart to highlight the main differences between these sports organizations.

Click here for the downloadable PDF version of the Special Olympics vs. Paralympics infographic.

Chart showing the differences between the Special Olympics vs. Paralympics: Age, Selection, Philosophy, Eligible Disabilities, Types of Competition, Countries Represented

 

Chart showing the differences between the Special Olympics vs. Paralympics: Frequency of Competition, Number of Sports, Sports for People with Intellectual Disabilities, First International Competition, Headquarters

Both of these organizations create platforms for people with disabilities to be able to compete in sports but they differ in their intentions. While the Paralympics values competition and elite skill levels, the Special Olympics values the power sports has to allow people to reach their full potential. 

 

 

 

See below for an accessible HTML table of the information instead:

Topic Special Olympics Paralympics
Ages 6 years old or older (usually) 18 years old or older
Selection Process Random Selection International qualifier competition or threshold times or other international selection procedures
Philosophy

“Power of sport to help all who participate fulfill their potential”

“Does not exclude any athlete based on qualifying scores [or skills]”

Elite athletes whose stringent training is done with personalized coaches/ training staff for international competitions leading to World Championships and Paralympic Games
Eligible Disabilities Intellectual Disabilities Physical, Visual, and Intellectual Disabilities
Types of Competition Local and international International only (with some domestic qualifying opportunities)
Frequency of Competitions

Local competitions happen year-round

World Games happen alternating odd years (since 1977) switching between summer and winter

Accompanies Olympics (winter and summer)

Hosted at the same venues (about 2 weeks after Olympics ends)
Number of Sports

32 total:  20 Summer, 9 Winter, 3 (not at World Games)

 28 total:  22 Summer & 6 Winter
Sports for People with Intellectual Disabilities All 32 sports Certain events in:  Track & Field, Swimming & Table Tennis
Countries Represented 170 182
First International Competition

Summer 1968 (Chicago, IL, USA)

1960 (Rome, Italy)
Headquarters Washington D.C., USA Bonn, Germany

 

Sources:

 

Originally Posted:  21 May 2020