History
events to remember
To date, teams from around the world have cheered and performed at five major Special Olympics events…..three World Games – Los Angeles, Austria and Abu Dhabi, the USA Games in Seattle and the Special Olympics 50th Anniversary in Chicago. Athletes and Unified Partners have participated in two competition demonstrations in Chicago and Abu Dhabi. Most recently, the Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando 2022 included Competitive Cheer for the first time. Continue to scroll down to read more about each experience.
special olympics world games
Los Angeles 2015
The first ever SO Cheer Game Day Program took place at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, California 2015. Seventeen Unified cheer teams (cheerleaders with and without intellectual disabilities) consisting of 225 cheerleaders participated. Teams cheered and performed at basketball, volleyball, swimming, track and field and open water swim, Festival venues at University of Southern California and University of California Los Angeles and receptions.
special olympics world games
austria 2017
SO Cheer’s second event was the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria 2017. One team from the United States with cheerleaders from Maryland and Arizona participated along with the local cheer team the Graz Giants cheerleaders. It was a unified cheer experience to remember.
special olympics usa games
seattle 2018
SO Cheer’s Game Day Program debuted at the Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle 2018. Spirit leaders cheered on athletes competing in basketball, flag football, soccer, volleyball, swimming, softball and gymnastics. Twelve unified cheer teams (cheerleaders with and without intellectual disabilities) consisting of 124 cheerleaders participated. The teams were from: Arizona, California, Maryland, North Carolina, Texas and Washington State.
special olympics 50th anniversary
chicago 2018
July 2018 also marked the 50th Anniversary of Special Olympics. A kick-off to a year-long celebration took place 17-21 July in Chicago, Illinois. The event reflected how Special Olympics had evolved and where it was headed. Special Olympics Cheer showcased both a Game Day Cheer Program at the first ever Unified Cup Soccer Tournament and a cheer competition demonstration for Global Day of Inclusion at Soldier Field. Ten Unified cheer teams (cheerleaders with and without intellectual disabilities) consisting of 130 cheerleaders participated. The teams were from: California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland and Texas.
special olympics world games
abu dhabi 2019
At the World Games in Abu Dhabi, cheer was sanctioned as a recognized sport for Special Olympics. It was the first international cheer program for SO Cheer with teams from the United States, Japan, Philippines and Russia. Cheerleaders participated in both a game day program and cheer competition demonstration.
special olympics usa games
orlando 2022
The USA Games in Orlando included the first ever cheer competition at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex Arena. Thirteen teams competed in both the Traditional and Unified Divisions. Over 150 athletes participated from Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Washington State.
