Special Olympics Georgia
Special Olympics Georgia provides year-round sports training and competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, serving over 26,620 athletes with the help of more than 45,000 volunteers.
Services
Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. SOGA offers 26 different sports for athletes to experience, catering to individuals from ages two to senior years. The organization includes a Young Athletes program tailored for ages 2-7 and a Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) for individuals with profound disabilities. Moreover, the Healthy Athletes program offers free health screenings and resources to participants.
Athlete Participation
Special Olympics Georgia serves 26,620 athletes statewide, including over 17,429 individuals with intellectual disabilities across 180 programs in 121 counties. Despite this impressive reach, SOGA serves only 23 percent of the eligible population. Athletes in the program benefit from training and competition in both state-level and Southeast Regional events, including unique opportunities in alpine skiing, ice skating, tennis, sailing, and powerlifting.
Volunteer Base
Special Olympics Georgia relies heavily on a significant volunteer base of more than 45,000 individuals to support its operations and mission. Volunteers assist in a wide array of activities from event organization to direct athlete support. These volunteers are essential to the execution of programs and the overall success of the organization.
Major Events and Fundraising
Among the notable events hosted by Special Olympics Georgia are five state-level competitions held annually. Additionally, the Law Enforcement Torch Run stands out as the largest annual fundraising event for the organization. This event involves over 1,000 law enforcement officers from more than 100 agencies and culminates at the State Summer Games with officers carrying the Olympic Torch during the Opening Ceremony. This initiative is crucial for supporting SOGA's programs as the organization does not receive state funding and is not a United Way agency.
Strategic Plan 2021-2025
Special Olympics Georgia's strategic plan for 2021-2025 outlines the organization's goals, focusing on advancing sports, training, competitions, and volunteer opportunities. In addition, the plan aims to build communities, enhance funding and engagement, as well as improve social media, technology, and website presence. This forward-looking approach is designed to ensure the sustainability and growth of SOGA's mission and services.