Special Olympics USA Games

What Special Olympics USA Games does

Special Olympics USA Games is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates the national USA Games competition under the umbrella of Special Olympics International. Headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with a contact office in Minneapolis, the organization executed the 2026 edition of the Games from June 20-26, 2026 in the Twin Cities, uniting nearly 3,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from all 50 states, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers, and an estimated 75,000-100,000 fans across 16 Olympic-type sports at University of Minnesota and National Sports Center venues. The organization is led by CEO Christy Sovereign, an Accenture executive on loan, and was established in 2022 after Minnesota won the bid to host the 2026 Games. All competitions and Fan Zones are free and open to the public, with no tickets required.

The core product portfolio spans the weeklong Games themselves plus a digital and physical ecosystem: The Champions mobile application, developed by Platinum Partner World Wide Technology, delivers schedules, results, athlete information, and ESPN+ streaming integration; the official website (2026specialolympicsusagames.org) serves as the central hub for news, volunteer registration, donations, and merchandise; and a Results Platform tracks competition outcomes by sport and delegation. Physical assets include three Fan Zones (Thrivent Fan Fest at the University of Minnesota, MDI Fan Zone at Mall of America, and Fredrikson Fan Zone), the ID Makers Market showcasing entrepreneurs with intellectual disabilities, the Healthy Athletes program for free health screenings, the Young Athletes Festival for children ages 2-7, and the inaugural Unified Work Summit on inclusive hiring hosted with Accenture. Beyond-Sports programming such as the 26 Weeks of Giving extends the organization's footprint outside the Games window.

The business model is nonprofit and event-driven, with no ticket revenue. Revenue is generated through a tiered corporate sponsorship pyramid anchored by Co-Presenting Partners Jersey Mike's Subs and UnitedHealthcare and a Platinum tier including Accenture, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Mall of America, and World Wide Technology. Donations and fundraising—including Jersey Mike's annual Month of Giving, which is projected to deliver over $30 million from a single Day of Giving on March 25, 2026—provide the largest single inflow, while merchandise sales through shop.2026usagames.org contribute a smaller stream. The organization benefits from a 42+ year exclusive media partnership with ESPN providing nearly 50 hours of live streaming coverage on ESPN+ and Disney+, and operational support from a network of corporate-loan executives and volunteer-driven logistics such as the Textron Aviation-managed Airlift program.

Name

Special Olympics USA Games

Legal name

2026 Special Olympics USA Games

Website

https://2026specialolympicsusagames.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organized a weeklong national competition (June 20-26, 2026) in Minnesota's Twin Cities, uniting nearly 3,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from all 50 states across 16 sports. It is funded through tiered corporate sponsorships, donations, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Multi-Sport Event Management

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Olympic & Multi-Sport Movement Organizations (NOCs, Olympic Committees) (MPAKACAI)

Keywords

• National sporting events
• Adaptive sports competitions
• Nonprofit athletic programs
• Inclusive sports management
• Corporate sponsorship fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: Revenue generated through tiered corporate sponsorship packages including Co-Presenting Partners (Jersey Mike's, UnitedHealthcare), Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze partners across multiple industries including retail, healthcare, financial services, technology, and consumer goods.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations collected through the organization's website and fundraising campaigns. Notable campaigns include Jersey Mike's Month of Giving where 100% of sales on designated days are donated, with single-day donations estimated to exceed $30 million.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online and pop-up merchandise stores selling official Games apparel, accessories, drinkware, and limited-edition items to fans and supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Special Olympics USA Games organizes and operates a weeklong national multi-sport competition (June 20-26, 2026) for nearly 3,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from all 50 states competing in 16 Olympic-type sports, held across venues in Minnesota's Twin Cities. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it also delivers ancillary programs including Healthy Athletes health screenings, the Young Athletes Festival for children ages 2-7, the ID Makers Market, the Unified Work Summit on inclusive hiring, and the official Champions mobile application for event engagement.

Product overview

The Special Olympics USA Games is a multi-day national sporting event (June 20-26, 2026) organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as the primary product offering. The digital product portfolio includes The Champions App (mobile application developed by World Wide Technology for event information, schedules, and live streaming via ESPN+), the official website as a central information hub, and a Results Platform for tracking competition outcomes. Physical offerings include three Fan Zones at major Minnesota venues, the ID Makers Market showcasing entrepreneurs with intellectual disabilities, the Healthy Athletes program providing free health screenings, and the Young Athletes Festival for children ages 2-7. The organization also operates an e-commerce store for official merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Champions App: Official mobile application for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games developed by World Wide Technology (WWT), featuring schedules, results, and athlete tracking.

Products and services

• The Champions App
• Results Platform
• Official Online Store
• 2026 Special Olympics USA Games Event
• Healthy Athletes Program
• Young Athletes Festival
• ID Makers Market
• Fan Zones
• ESPN+ Live Streaming Coverage

Quantifiable outcome

• 42+ year ESPN partnership has resulted in 111% increase in Unified Sports participants globally, reaching over 1.8 million participants since 2013
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered bronze partner, platinum partner, co-presenting partner, minor partner and core partner.

• Fastenalbronze partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 June 2026Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST) has been named as an official partner of the 2026 Games. The company donated over $100,000 worth of products including tools, equipment, and safety gear such as its Body Guard brand, along with printing the Special Olympics logo on nearly 500 donated safety vests and hardhats.
• Accentureplatinum partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Accenture is a Platinum Partner and hosted the first-ever Unified Work Summit at the Games, uniting organizations to dismantle employment barriers and champion inclusive hiring. CEO Christy Sovereign is on loan from Accenture to serve as CEO of the Games.
• Jersey Mike'sco-presenting partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 March 2026Jersey Mike's serves as a Co-Presenting Partner of the 2026 Games. The company runs its 16th Annual Month of Giving in March 2026 with a special Day of Giving on March 25 where 100% of sales from all 3,200+ locations are donated to the Games, estimated to exceed $30 million. The company has raised over $143 million for local charities since its Month of Giving tradition began in 2011.
• Textron Aviationminor partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 February 2026Textron Aviation manages logistics for the Special Olympics Airlift, coordinating over 100 volunteer aircraft owners and operators who donate aircraft, crew, fuel, and time to transport athletes home after the Games. Since 1987, the Airlift has transported more than 10,000 athletes and coaches.
• World Wide Technology (WWT)platinum partnerTechnology or Integration · 21 May 2025World Wide Technology announced it will serve as an official sponsor of the 2026 Games and developed 'The Champions' mobile application for the event. WWT employees will have opportunities to volunteer at the Games.
• UnitedHealthcareco-presenting partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerUnitedHealthcare serves as a Co-Presenting Partner of the 2026 Games, committed to helping people live healthier lives and increasing access to care while supporting the Special Olympics mission of inclusion.
• ESPNcore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerESPN serves as the official media partner for the 2026 Games, providing nearly 50 hours of live streaming coverage on ESPN+ and Disney+. The partnership spans 42+ years, with ESPN serving as Global Presenting Sponsor of Unified Sports since 2013. ABC airs preview and review specials, while NFL Network broadcasts the Flag Football championship.
• North Star Therapy Animals / Pet Partnersminor partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerNorth Star Therapy Animals of Pet Partners provides Champ, a four-year-old golden retriever therapy dog, as the first-ever live mascot of the Special Olympics USA Games. Champ serves as a registered therapy dog providing comfort at the Games' sensory spaces.
• Bank of Americaplatinum partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerBank of America is a Platinum Partner with partner activations at the Fan Zones across the Twin Cities, supporting the Games' celebration and community engagement initiatives.
• Coca-Colaplatinum partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerCoca-Cola is a Platinum Partner and serves as the official sports sponsor for pickleball competitions at the Games, keeping athletes fueled and hydrated.
• Mall of Americaplatinum partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerMall of America hosts the MDI Fan Zone in the Huntington Bank Rotunda, transforming the iconic destination into an immersive celebration space with hands-on exhibits, arts and crafts, merchandise store, and Toddler Tuesday programming.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics International: Global parent organization that operates the Special Olympics movement worldwide, including the World Games and accredited programs. Directly comparable as the umbrella entity for the USA Games and the source of the brand, athlete pipeline, and Unified Sports standards.
• International Paralympic Committee: Global governing body for the Paralympic Movement, organizing the Paralympic Games and overseeing disability sport worldwide. Comparable as the international counterpart running multi-sport events for athletes with disabilities.
• National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA): Largest U.S. non-profit multi-sport governing body, operating national championships across member institutions. Comparable as a non-profit that organizes large-scale amateur multi-sport competitions with tiered corporate sponsorships and broadcast partnerships.

Direct peers

• USA Paralympics: National governing body for elite adaptive sport competition in the U.S., operating under the USOPC. Highly comparable as it runs national-level multi-sport competitions and training pipelines for athletes with disabilities.
• Gay Games: International quadrennial multi-sport event and cultural festival organized by a non-profit federation. Comparable as a non-profit multi-sport event organizer with sponsorship, volunteer, and free-access models targeting an inclusive community.
• Warrior Games (DoD): Adaptive sports competition for wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans organized by the U.S. Department of Defense. Comparable as a multi-sport adaptive event for a defined population with major broadcast and sponsor relationships.
• Invictus Games Foundation: Operates the Invictus Games, an international adaptive multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick service members. Directly comparable as a non-profit multi-sport event organizer for a specific adaptive-athlete population.
• Transplant Games of America: Biennial multi-sport competition for organ transplant recipients, living donors, and donor families organized by a non-profit. Comparable as a U.S. multi-sport event organizer built around a specific medically/ability-defined community.
• Maccabi USA: Non-profit that sends a U.S. delegation to the Maccabiah Games and runs domestic Jewish athletic programming. Comparable as a non-profit multi-sport event organizer operating on a quadrennial cycle with similar sponsorship and volunteer models.

Emerging players

• United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum: Non-profit organization in Colorado Springs supporting U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athlete development and storytelling. Comparable as a non-profit that builds brand, fundraising, and public-engagement infrastructure around elite adaptive and Olympic athletes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/2026USAGames
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpecialOlympicsUSAGames
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2026-special-olympics-usa-games
• Instagraminstagram.com/specialolympicsusagames
• TikToktiktok.com/@2026usagames

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Special Olympics USA Games