For 50 years, Special Olympics has been building a movement to break down barriers – both on and off the field in health and education – all through the power of sport. As we celebrated the our 50th Anniversary in 2018, we saw the launch of a revolution to inspire action and ultimately end discrimination for people with Intellectual Disabilities. Thank you for joining us in 2018 as we celebrated the milestones!
Join us in 2019 for the next leg of the journey!
Upcoming Events
Community Events
Sporting Events
Support Special Olympics Utah this winter
2019 Polar Plunges
It's Time to Party like its 32 degrees!
January 12 - Northern Utah
January 26 - Salt Lake City
Come join us for the "coolest" party of the year!
Last year, the bravest of athletes, unified partners, & community friends took the plunge! The best part? After their bodies returned to 98.6°F and the donations were tallied, they raised over $11,000 for Special Olympics Utah to support sports, competitions and programs. Booyah!
Are you brave enough to take the plunge and get freezin' for a reason? If you're "Too Chicken" there's a spot just for you too!
All proceeds from the Polar Plunge go directly to benefit Special Olympics Utah athletes. We keep your fundraising dollars right here in Utah!
Pick your Plunge and JOIN US today!
2019 Snowshoe Invitational
@ Soldier Hollow Nordic Center
February 2, 2019
Snowshoeing is quickly becoming a favorite for outdoor winter activity. Combining aerobic activity with ease of walking over snow without sinking in, snowshoeing is an activity for all ages. Special Olympics encourages its athletes to get out and be active year round. Snowshoeing is one of the easiest and safest winter activities to enjoy with fellow athletes, family and friends.
Join us for a fun day of activity, sport, and friendly competition while enjoying the beauty of the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center!
2019 Town Hall Meetings
Join the conversation! Let’s talk about sports, competitions, and what’s ahead in 2019!
Chat with the Special Olympics Utah President & CEO, as well as the Board Chair about all upcoming events, new ideas, how you can become an athlete, coach or donor, ask questions about rules and regulations, and find out all you want to know about Special Olympics Utah!
Healthy Habits during the Holidays
The Healthy Plate Model is a simple guide to eating healthy, balanced meals! This is an easy way to remember to eat healthy at big holiday meals or parties.
Fruits and vegetables should take up half of your plate, lean protein like turkey should take one quarter, and fiber-rich carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, brown rice or whole wheat rolls should take up the last quarter.
It's a great way for Special Olympics Utah athletes and unified partners, along with their friends and families to stay fit and lean in the off season, and as they prepare to train for winter and spring sports!
Find out how Special Olympics athletes are learning how to become health messengers that are creating healthy communities! #InclusiveHealth
2019 State Basketball Tournament
On March 15 & 16, 2019, Special Olympics Utah, along with our title sponsors Miller Family Philanthropy and the Utah Jazz, will host the second annual State Basketball Tournament at the University of Utah. Competitions will be held in 3 vs. 3 traditional, 5 vs. 5 traditional and unified, along with a skills competition, and the motor activities training program.
During it's inaugural season in 2018, the State Basketball Tournament hosted over 500 athletes, 200 coaches and 300 event volunteers. We expect to see even more competitions in 2019! Rounding out the weekend will be the Opening Ceremonies and Victory Dance held on Friday evening. It will be a fun, competitive and exciting event!
Find out how you can become part of Special Olympics Utah’s basketball season as an athlete, coach or volunteer.
Be a Game Changer - Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteers are the backbone of Special Olympics Utah. We could not exist without the dedication of thousands of Utahans.
In Utah, we count on over 4000 volunteers across the state. The time, energy and enthusiasm of volunteers fuel our movement and make our athletes’ dreams a reality.
We especially appreciate our corporate volunteer partners, like those from Adobe. Their 2018 volunteer motto was "Create Change", which aligns beautifully with the Special Olympics Utah charge to join the #InclusionRevolution. Here's what some of their employee volunteers had to say:
"As someone who has always been far too competitive, I love helping with Special Olympics to see examples of what sportsmanship should be like. All of the athletes compete with intensity, but celebrate other players’ successes as much as their own. They all enjoy the competition, stay positive in the face of setbacks, and encourage their opponents. All athletes should look to Special Olympics as a model for sportsmanship."
- Chris Challis, Adobe Data Science Manager & Volunteer
"This year I loved the camaraderie of the athletes across teams and the encouragement of volunteers, teammates, families, and friends. I love seeing how hard they’ve worked and especially enjoyed the two sibling teams I got to score! I always return energized and inspired from my time at these Games. I’ve attached a few pictures since I think they capture it best. "
- Ivy Portwood, Adobe Volunteer
Join our friends from Adobe and be a Game Changer in 2019!
Become an athlete
Become a coach
Become a volunteer
Become a unified partner
Find out how by visiting our website!
Season's Giving
Help Special Olympics Utah Reach One More Athlete in 2019
In the spirit of the season - let's overcome the fear of difference and replace it with the power of inclusion. Help us give the gift of sport to just one more athlete.
Special Olympics and over 5 million of our athletes are leading the charge for full inclusion of people with Intellectual Disabilities. So far, we've reached over 1900 Special Olympics Utah athletes, but there are still athletes waiting for their chance to get in the game.
Picking up a basketball, putting on a swim cap, or strapping on cleats can be a life-changing act for a person with intellectual disability. Instead of standing on the sidelines, Special Olympics Utah athletes can embrace their untapped potential and live their lives to the fullest.
Your gift today will help us provide even more sports equipment, programs, and training for athletes with intellectual disabilities who might otherwise go without the support they deserve.
That means your year end gift will give hope, empowerment, and brighter futures to more athletes in Utah for years to come. Give right now and see your donation go twice as far to help get athletes off the sidelines.
Help us raise $15,000 by the end of 2018! This will help us reach over 500 more athletes in 2019 (that's just $30 per athlete!)
Donate Today - Help Special Olympics Utah reach one more athlete
Thank You!
During this season of gratitude, we offer our heartfelt THANKS! to all of our sponsors, community partners, donors and volunteers. You made a difference in the lives of our athletes in 2018.
From the entire Special Olympics Utah family, THANK YOU!
We look forward to you joining us again in 2019!
Join the Conversation
#ChooseToInclude
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With New Year’s Eve around the corner and the majority of Americans spending up to $200 each on the occasion per year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2018’s Best Places for New Year’s Eve Celebrations (as well as accompanying videos) to go along with its 50+ New Year’s Eve Facts – Traditions, Spending & More infographic.
To help Americans ring in the new year without breaking the bank, WalletHub compared the 100 biggest cities across 28 key metrics. The data set ranges from legality of fireworks to average price of a New Year’s Eve party ticket to forecasted precipitation for Dec. 31.
Best Cities for New Year’s Eve
1
New York, NY
11
Miami, FL
2
Los Angeles, CA
12
New Orleans, LA
3
Atlanta, GA
13
Philadelphia, PA
4
San Diego, CA
14
Birmingham, AL
5
Las Vegas, NV
15
Seattle, WA
6
Denver, CO
16
San Antonio, TX
7
Orlando, FL
17
Dallas, TX
8
Chicago, IL
18
Louisville, KY
9
Washington, DC
19
Nashville, TN
10
San Francisco, CA
20
Virginia Beach, VA
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-places-for-new-years-eve/17263/
50+ New Year’s Facts – Traditions, Spending & More
To view the full infographic, please visit: https://wallethub.com/blog/new-year-facts/29706/
