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

TV Spot: Help Stop the Use of the "R" Word:

Negative stereotype of people with intellectual disabilities are kept alive when people use demeaning words. Too often, please say "retard" or "retarded" without thinking about the effects these words have on others - even if it's not meant in a mean way. If you are not sure how to refer to someone with intellectual disabilities, call them by their name. That's what they really want: to be thought of no different from you or me. You would be surprised they actually have more in common with you than not...they like music, dancing, talking about sports, movies - just like you.

Intellectual disabilities know no boundaries. They touch everyone. A person with an intellectual disability could be your sister, your brother, your neighbor, your teammate, your classmate, your mentor, or your teacher. Most importantly, a person with an intellectual disability can be your friend.

Join Special Olympics Virginia and other Special Olympics programs across the world as we come together to eliminate the "R" word and take responsibility for the power words have on others.