Welcome to the Central Ontario District Site! 
 
We provide quality sport training programs and competitions for athletes living with an intellectual disability in the district of Central Ontario.

If you're an athlete, a coach, or a volunteer, or thinking of becoming one, check us out and learn about the exciting opportunities that we have to offer.

If you like to hang out on Twitter, follow District Developer Hellaina Rothenburg: @HellainaR

A Special Year for Special Olympics: our 50th Anniversary!

Who knew fifty years ago that a one-day sports festival for athletes with an intellectual disability would become a global movement for inclusion? Well, more than a few people that day in 1968 at Soldier's Field in Chicago certainly must have! Canada was represented by a Floor Hockey team from Toronto, and the vision came from a young researcher in Ontario: Dr. Frank Hayden. Read on to learn more about the history of how Special Olympics was born, as we celebrate what it has become: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-how-the-special-olympics-were-born/. 




News Flash

  • Congratulations 2018 Award Winners: Central Ontario Should be Proud! (please click on title to be taken to article with photo) In reviewing the list of 2018 Provincial Award Winners found at http://www1.specialolympicsontario.com/blog/2018-provincial-awards-announcment/, let's take pride in the accomplishments of those in communities across Central district:Athlete Lifetime Achievement Award: Wayne Morton, Central BruceFemale Coach of the Year: Kathy McCarroll, BarrieVolunteer of the Year: Barb King, Owen SoundEducator of the Year: Ernie Ellement, PeterboroughSchool Athlete of the Year: Jake Nelson, Bracebridge Muskoka Lakes S.S.
    Posted Jan 28, 2019, 11:01 AM by Hellaina VanErp-Rothenburg
  • What a Day for the Guardians Half in Orillia! Law Enforcement Torch Run hosted the 2nd annual Guardians Half Marathon and 5k in Orillia on October 14th and it was a perfect day for a run: cool, crisp morning that warmed up just enough for comfortable running. Among the participants were MANY Special Olympics athletes - including 1st place finishes in both the men's and women's categories in the 5k: well done, Desiree (Orillia) and Owen (Grimsby)! There were also two, top-ten finishes in the half-marathon for Brian (Barrie) and Stephen (Orillia). Well done, everyone!
    Posted Nov 14, 2018, 8:32 AM by Hellaina VanErp-Rothenburg
  • THREE Provincial competitions, THREE lists! (click on post to open page with attachments) Here is the updated December 20th announcement of District Team lists for athletes heading to Provincials in 2019! "Stars Meet" in Sault Ste Marie from January 31st to February 3rd for the Provincial Winter Games; visit the Games website here: http://ssm2019games.com/. Also below are the lists for the Provincial Floor Hockey Championships in May and the Provincial 5-pin Bowling Championships in June. Congratulations to all athletes! Please direct any questions to District Developer Hellaina Rothenburg: hellainar@specialolympicsontario.com. 
    Posted Dec 31, 2018, 7:37 AM by Hellaina VanErp-Rothenburg
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Bravo, Central Ontario!
What an amazing 2019 Provincial Winter Games it was in Sault Ste Marie... Six sports, over a hundred Central Ontario athletes and coaches, and medals galore. Congratulations on all successes! 

Special Olympics: United Around the World!
In March, SOO-Orillia athlete Stephen Graham will be travelling to Abu Dhabi to participate in the Final Leg of the Torch Run for the Special Olympics World Summer Games. Stephen is one of eight athletes world-wide who were selected for this amazing event. During his time there, he will be part of the Polar Plunge: yes, a pool of cold, freezing ice! Stephen is asking for donations for this event. 100% of the funds Stephen raises will come back to Special Olympics Ontario, with 50% of the donations being directed to programs in Orillia. Please support the vital services that Special Olympics provide by donating online.  "Thank you in advance for your generosity." Click on the link to donate: http://igfn.us/vf/SOLAR/StephenGraham (and click to confirm that you are not a robot!)