Special Olympics Switzerland

What Special Olympics Switzerland does

Special Olympics Switzerland is the Swiss national foundation (Stiftung) of the global Special Olympics movement, founded in 1995 and headquartered at Haus des Sports in Ittigen. The organisation delivers sports training, regional and national competitions, and ancillary health, coaching, and family-support programmes exclusively for people with intellectual disabilities, serving approximately 11–50 employees supported by a broader volunteer and partner ecosystem. Its core product surface consists of Discovery Days (low-threshold introductory events), Regional and National Games (multisport competitions spanning 16 disciplines including athletics, basketball, boccia, cycling, equestrian, football, judo, swimming, and table tennis), World Games delegations representing Team Switzerland, the Health inclusion programme, coach training modules, the Family Network, and the World Winter Games 2029 legacy projects.

The organisation operates as a non-profit foundation with no public revenue disclosure. It is funded through a mix of individual donations (preset CHF 25, 30, 50, 60, 90, 100 amounts solicited on the website) and corporate sponsorships, including Premium Partners (Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Raiffeisen Schweiz, Toyota, WRT) and National Partners (Erima, Schroders). Distribution relies on a community-led go-to-market delivered through cantonal support associations (Fördervereine), trained coaches, competition organisers, and the Family Network, complemented by a multi-channel digital presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and a monthly newsletter. Strategic positioning is anchored by the upcoming hosting of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Switzerland 2029 and the awarded National Summer Games 2030 in Yverdon-les-Bains, alongside a formal cooperation with the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) to develop climbing as a new discipline.

Name

Special Olympics Switzerland

Legal name

Special Olympics Switzerland

Website

https://specialolympics.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Special Olympics Switzerland is the Swiss national foundation of the Special Olympics movement, delivering sports training, regional and national competitions, and health and coaching programmes for people with intellectual disabilities across Switzerland, funded through donations and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific) (MPAKAFAL), Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK), Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM), Adaptive & Para-Sport Coaching (HSADAEAM)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Disability athletics training
• Inclusive multisport events
• Coach education modules
• Health inclusion programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ittingen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations from the public, solicited via the website with preset amounts (25, 50, 100 CHF and custom). Donations fund regular sport and movement offerings, competitions, and athlete experiences.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Premium and National partner sponsorships from corporations including Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Raiffeisen, Toyota, WRT (Premium), Erima, and Schroders (National). Sponsors receive brand visibility across events, communications, and partner listings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Special Olympics Switzerland provides free adaptive sports training, competitions, and related inclusion programs for people with intellectual disabilities across Switzerland. Its core offerings include introductory Discovery Days, regional and national multisport Games, Swiss delegations to international World Games, a Health inclusion program, coach training/education modules, the Family Network for athletes' families, and legacy projects tied to hosting the World Winter Games 2029. All programs are delivered free of charge to athletes and funded through donations and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Special Olympics Switzerland is a non-profit sports organization that provides a unified portfolio of sports programs and events for people with intellectual disabilities. The core offerings include Discovery Days (introductory sports experiences), Regional and National Games (multisport competitions), World Games delegations, a Health program, Coach Training Modules, and World Winter Games 2029 Legacy Projects. These programs work together to create inclusive sporting opportunities that promote physical activity, personal development, and community integration for athletes with cognitive disabilities across Switzerland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Discovery Days
• Regional Games Regional-level multisport competitions for Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities across Switzerland.
• National Games National-level multisport competitions, including National Summer Games and National Winter Games, for Swiss Special Olympics athletes. The National Summer Games Zug 2026 featured 16 sport disciplines including athletics, basketball, boccia, bowling, cycling, equestrian, football, golf, artistic gymnastics, handball, judo, petanque, sailing, swimming, tennis, and table tennis.
• World Games Delegations Preparation, support, and accompaniment of Team Switzerland delegations to international Special Olympics World Games.
• Health Program (Special Olympics Health) The Swiss delivery of the global Special Olympics Health program, providing health and prevention services that promote the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in the healthcare system.
• Coach Training Modules (Formation) Education and certification modules that prepare volunteer coaches to accompany athletes with intellectual disabilities to Special Olympics events, including sport-specific training.
• Family Network Community network for families and caregivers of Special Olympics Switzerland athletes, providing peer support, shared experiences, and a referral channel into the organization's programmes.
• World Winter Games 2029 Legacy Projects Legacy projects tied to hosting the Special Olympics World Winter Games Switzerland 2029, focused on sustainably building sport and physical activity opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities and on transforming Swiss sport and society.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered premium, national and core.

• Raiffeisen SchweizpremiumGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 May 2026Raiffeisen has extended its longstanding partnership with Special Olympics Switzerland through 2026+. The banking group supports the organization financially and through brand visibility.
• Coca-ColapremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerCoca-Cola is listed as a Premium Partner of Special Olympics Switzerland, receiving brand visibility across Special Olympics events, website, and communications materials.
• Johnson & JohnsonpremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerJohnson & Johnson is listed as a Premium Partner, supporting Special Olympics Switzerland's mission and receiving partner visibility across communications channels.
• ToyotapremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerToyota is listed as a Premium Partner, receiving partner visibility across Special Olympics Switzerland's platforms and events.
• WRTpremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerWRT is listed as a Premium Partner of Special Olympics Switzerland.
• ErimanationalGTM or Marketing PartnerErima is listed as a National Partner of Special Olympics Switzerland.
• SchrodersnationalGTM or Marketing PartnerSchroders is listed as a National Partner of Special Olympics Switzerland.
• Swiss Alpine Club (SAC / CAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) supports and guides the development of climbing as a sport in Switzerland for people with intellectual disabilities through a formal cooperation. The SAC supports Special Olympics Switzerland in developing climbing as a new competition discipline ahead of the World Winter Games 2029, including providing trainers and facilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Swiss Olympic Association: Umbrella of Swiss sport federations including elite and grassroots bodies. Broader incumbent in the Swiss sport ecosystem with overlapping sponsor relationships (e.g., Raiffeisen) and shared event infrastructure, but does not focus exclusively on disability sport.
• Special Olympics International: Global governing body of the Special Olympics movement and parent of Special Olympics Switzerland. Operates the worldwide framework (World Games, divisioning, Unified Sports, Health programme) on which the Swiss chapter directly relies.
• Swiss Paralympic: National Paralympic Committee of Switzerland, focused on elite disability sport. Adjacent peer in the Swiss disability-sport ecosystem with shared athlete base, governance links, and sponsorship pools, but oriented to elite competition rather than grassroots Special Olympics programming.

Regional players

• Inclusion Handicap: Swiss umbrella organisation of disability associations. Comparable as a fellow Swiss disability-sector non-profit driving inclusion policy and advocacy; serves overlapping constituencies (people with intellectual disabilities and their families) but with an advocacy rather than sport-delivery model.
• Plusport Deutschland: German disability-sport federation providing grassroots sport opportunities for people with disabilities. Regional peer with comparable mission and Discovery-style taster sessions, operating in the larger German market and an external benchmark for the Swiss programme.

Direct peers

• Special Olympics Germany: German national chapter of Special Olympics. Closest peer in terms of programme structure (Discovery Days, Regional/National Games, multi-sport portfolio, donation/sponsorship model) within a neighbouring market, often cited as a comparison case in DACH reporting.
• Swiss Deaf Sport: Swiss federation serving athletes with hearing impairment. Direct peer: same Swiss market, disability-sport focus, multi-sport competitions, and explicitly co-marketed with Special Olympics Switzerland at joint events.
• PluSport: Swiss disability-sport umbrella organisation offering sport opportunities for people with disabilities. Direct peer: shares Swiss geography, athletes with disabilities, multi-sport programming, and event-based delivery (jointly ran the PluSport-Tag in Magglingen).
• Special Olympics Austria: Austrian national chapter of Special Olympics. Direct peer: same DACH market dynamics, comparable headcount scale, similar sport portfolio and donation/sponsorship revenue mix, providing a natural benchmark for Swiss operations.

Others

• Fondation Hans Wilsdorf (Rolex): Swiss philanthropic foundation funding sport, culture, and humanitarian causes. Thematically relevant as a potential funding partner for Special Olympics Switzerland given the 2029 World Games, though it does not deliver sport programmes itself.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@specialolympicsswitzerland
• Facebookfacebook.com/specialolympics.ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-olympics-switzerland
• Instagraminstagram.com/specialolympicsswitzerland
• TikToktiktok.com/@specialolympicsch

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Special Olympics Switzerland