Special Olympics BC Youth Programs set for another season of growth and inclusion in 2026-27
We are very happy that there’s a Special Olympics BC Unified Sports program for us to compete in and it’s really fun. It means a lot that we get to be included and do all the sports.
For Ava and many children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities across British Columbia, Special Olympics BC Youth Programs provide opportunities to build skills, make friends, and gain confidence through the joy of sport.
Special Olympics BC’s Youth Programs are:
Active Start and FUNdamentals programs for children aged 2 to 11
Special Olympics BC Unified Sports® opportunities in middle and high schools
These tailored, supportive programs give young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the chance to belong and thrive in sports.
As the 2026-27 season begins, Special Olympics BC is excited to welcome new programs and continue supporting athletes, communities, and schools across the province!
Special Olympics BC Unified Sports build inclusion, friendships, and opportunity
Special Olympics BC Unified Sports® brings together students with intellectual disabilities and students without intellectual disabilities (Unified partners) as teammates, competitors, and friends.
By training and competing together, students build understanding, acceptance, and meaningful relationships while creating more inclusive school communities.
This experience means a lot to our kids. [Special Olympics BC Unified Sports] gives the kids the opportunity to connect in a different capacity, and it extends further than the court. There’s camaraderie in our hallways. There are less students being separate. It’s now an inclusive environment in the halls. And that’s thanks to the inclusive environment on the court.
Highlights from the 2025-26 season
In May 2026, the first Special Olympics BC Unified 3 x 3 Basketball Provincial Jamboree was hosted at Langley Events Centre, with almost 40 schools competing against each other.
All of us are so grateful just to be here and have the opportunity to participate. It’s amazing that Special Olympics BC Unified Sports has a whole section of sports and everybody gets to be involved. Everybody gets to play.
“I think the Special Olympics BC Unified 3 x 3 Basketball Provincial Jamboree is a great tournament because I really think it showcases the capabilities of individuals with disabilities and really shows that when we’re given an opportunity, we can achieve whatever we set our mind to,” said Special Olympics BC athlete leader and speaker Matthew Williams.
Other 2025-26 season highlights included the popular and inspiring Special Olympics BC Vancouver Island 3 x 3 Basketball School Sport Competition that took place in May 2026. Schools across Vancouver Island came together to showcase their skills and the power of inclusion.
Coquitlam schools gathered at the Unified Sports Coquitlam District Championship in April, and schools from Langley, Chilliwack, Surrey, and Coquitlam faced off at the Unified Sports Fraser Valley Regionals, also in April. Schools across Vancouver gathered together for two “Vancouver Play Days,” a chance to showcase skills and experience the thrill of competition, while schools in Burnaby competed against each other weekly, leading to a final mini tournament at the end of the season.
Special Olympics BC Unified 3 x 3 Basketball Provincial Jamboree returns in May 2027
Stay tuned for more details! The Special Olympics BC Unified 3 x 3 Basketball Provincial Jamboree will return in May 2027. Every school with a Special Olympics BC Unified Basketball program will be invited to attend this tournament.
Special Olympics BC Unified Soccer launches this fall
The 2026-27 season marks an exciting milestone with the launch of Special Olympics BC Unified Soccer as a sanctioned Special Olympics BC school sport.
The six-week season will run from mid-October through the end of November and will culminate in the first-ever Special Olympics BC Unified Soccer competition. The competition will follow a tournament-style format similar to the Special Olympics BC Unified 3 x 3 Basketball Provincial Jamboree.
Every school with a Special Olympics BC Unified Soccer program will be invited to attend the final Special Olympics BC Unified Soccer competition.
Special Olympics BC Unified Track and Field coming in spring 2027
Special Olympics BC is introducing Special Olympics BC Unified Track and Field this spring. In this sport, athletes with intellectual disabilities and Unified Partners compete individually while earning points as a pair.
At a Special Olympics BC Unified Track and Field Try It Day in Langley earlier this year, students had a great time cheering each other on. A highlight was the relay race, where Unified Partners started the race before passing the baton to their partnered athlete. The event highlights teamwork, encouragement, and the power of inclusion as participants and spectators cheer each other on.
Building skills, confidence, and belonging through Active Start and FUNdamentals
Through Special Olympics BC's Active Start (ages two to six) and FUNdamentals (ages seven to 11) programs, children and youth with intellectual disabilities develop vital motor, sport, and social skills in fun, welcoming, and supportive environments.
Offered in communities and schools across B.C., these low-cost programs help participants build confidence, develop physical literacy, and prepare for lifelong participation in sport and physical activity.
By providing early opportunities for skill development and inclusion, Youth Programs help children and youth with intellectual disabilities succeed in sport and gain skills that benefit every aspect of their lives.
Many communities that hosted youth programs in 2025-26 will continue offering Active Start and/or FUNdamentals programs during the 2026-27 season. We’re excited to welcome some new communities as well!
New programs in Chilliwack, Comox Valley, and Salt Spring Island
This fall, SOBC – Chilliwack will launch a new Active Start program for children aged two to six.
The community has very successfully operated a FUNdamentals program in recent years, and the addition of Active Start will allow even younger participants to begin their Special Olympics journey.
The program will run Tuesdays from September 29 to December 15 at Cheam Leisure Centre. The program will be led by an inspiring young volunteer who first joined as an assistant coach and, at just 21 years old, is now stepping into the role of head coach.
And for the first time, Special Olympics BC is launching both Active Start and FUNdamentals programs on Salt Spring Island, creating new opportunities for children and youth with intellectual disabilities to participate in sport and connect with their community. A Try It Day will be held September 21 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Fernwood Elementary School to welcome prospective athletes and recruit volunteers.
The Salt Spring Island programs will run Fridays from October 16 to December 18 at Fernwood Elementary School.
And finally, SOBC – Comox Valley will launch Special Olympics BC Youth Programs in January 2027. Stay tuned to SOBC – Comox Valley’s community page for more information to come!
Active Start and FUNdamentals across B.C.
Active Start and/or FUNdamentals programs are being offered in the following communities during the 2026-27 season:
Abbotsford
Chilliwack
Comox Valley (Beginning in January 2027)
Coquitlam
Kamloops
Kelowna
North Shore
Prince George
Richmond
Salt Spring Island
Surrey
Trail (Beginning in January 2027)
Vancouver
Vernon
Victoria
Additional programs are currently being finalized, with more announcements expected throughout the season. For the most up-to-date list of programs, visit the Special Olympics BC Youth Programs page.
Get involved
Special Olympics BC Youth Programs continue to create opportunities for children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities to learn, grow, compete, and belong.
If you're interested in registering as an athlete, volunteer, or exploring ways to start or strengthen Youth Programs in your community or school, Special Olympics BC can help.
To learn more about Youth Programs or to explore opportunities in your area, please contact inclusion@specialolympics.bc.ca.