Games and Competition
Special Olympics Ireland offers year round training and coaching for athletes with an intellectual disability. We operate on a 4-year advancement cycle of competition.
The advancement cycle is the process for athletes progressing from one level of competition to the next.
Athletes can compete at a variety of skill levels, from basic to advanced, all the way to World Games - which is facilitated by our divisioning processes which match athletes to their ability level. It's vital that athletes at every level of ability have the opportunity to compete year round and to take part in events, workshops and training opportunities.
Due to the size of the Special Olympics Ireland programme, advancement is managed over a 4-year cycle across winter and summer sports.
Depending on the numbers involved in the Sport the advancement cycle may start in either year 1 or year 2 of the cycle. The cycles are arranged so that any one year will have winter and summer sports at different stages of the cycle.
Each year of the cycle for both winter and summer sports consists of the following:
Year 1: Area Qualifying events and opportunities
Year 2: Regional Qualifying events and opportunities
Year 3: Ireland Games
Year 4: World Games
For a visual example, see below:
2026 Ireland Summer Games
The 2026 Ireland Summer Games will be the next major event in the 4-year cycle - stay tuned for more information!
2025 World Winter Games
The 2025 World Winter Games in Turin, Italy was a great success for Team Ireland, with 11 medals and four placed finishes. These Games featured some historic firsts - Caolan McConville became the first Irish athlete to compete in Alpine Skiing at the Advanced level, while Lorraine Whelan made the record books by being the first Irish athlete to compete in five international Games. Additionally, George Fitzgerald made history going from athlete to official and now representing Team Ireland as an Assistant Coach.
2024 Ireland Winter Games
The Special Olympics Ireland Winter Games 2024 featured over 200 athletes in action across South Lake Leisure Centre and Craigavon Golf & Ski Centre, as competition in the sports of floorball and alpine skiing proceeded in a spirit living up to the famous Special Olympics Athlete Oath: "Let me win, and if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt".
2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games (1569)
The 2023 World Summer Games were a triumph for Team Ireland, as 73 athletes across 12 sports competed with skill, team spirit and courage to bring home 75 medals (24 gold, 22 silver and 29 bronze).
2020 Special Olympics Ireland Winter Games
2019 World Summer Games
2018 Ireland Summer Games
Why operate an Advancement Cycle?
The Advancement Cycle offers transparency, consistency and fairness. It gives every eligible athlete the same opportunity to compete at every level of competition.
Who is eligible to advance?
Athletes are eligible to advance to the next level of competition provided they:
- have participated in a minimum eight-week organised training programme and have prepared for competition in the specific sport and event consistent with the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules
- have participated and were placed in the previous highest level competition in their chosen sport. For example, an athlete cannot compete at a Regional advancement event if the athlete has not competed in the previous Area advancement event
- have not been disqualified or failed to complete their events.
- If a sport/event is not offered in the next level of the advancement cycle, it is not possible for an athlete to advance further.
What year in cycle is Special Olympics currently operating in?
Summer sports are currently (2025) in the Regional Qualifying stage. Next year (2026) will be the Ireland Summer Games.
Winter sports have had the World Winter Games in March this year (2025). Next year (2026) will see the advancement cycle begin again with Area Qualifying.