Special Olympics Chester County provides free, year-round sports training and athletic competition in 18 Olympic-type sports for individuals with mental retardation and closely related developmental disabilities. This provides the athlete with continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness skills, express courage, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other athletes and the community.

Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with mental retardation can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy, and greatly benefit from participation in individual and team sports, adapted as necessary to meet the needs of those with mental and physical disabilities. Further, Special Olympics believes that through sports training and competition, people with mental retardation benefit physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually; families are strengthened; and the community at large, both through participation and observation, is united with people with mental retardation in an environment of equality, respect, and acceptance.

What's New: (2/27/10):

The Valor Bowl will be held at Conestoga High School on Wed. June 2nd at 7:15PM.

Equestrian Program We are taking names for those who are interested in our equestrian program. For the first time we will be taking beginner riders but the more experience the better. Our total allotment for riders is nine (9). If you are interested you most be willing to do the following:

Attend all ten weeks of training. Training will be at the Thorncroft Equestrian Center, Boot Road West Chester, PA You must be available for summer games competition at Penn State June 3,4,5 If you are a beginner, you should try to obtain additional lessons on your own during the year. This is the only way you will improve! We have Wednesday Evenings and Saturday Afternoons Starting March 10th. If interested please call: 484-320-8401

Special thanks to Wicks Sporting Goods in Exton. They have generously donated ski rentals to us for this season. Hopefully our skiers will have lots of snow to put that equipment to good use!

At this time, the skiing program is full. Please note that we do not offer "handicapped" skiing. We don’t have the equipment or the coaches. If you have questions, contact Paula Bewley.

Thanks to all those who generously donated to Chester County Special Olympics throughout 2009.

Great Valley football players Chris Nurthen and Dave Hausladen celebrated an excellent performance on the field on a chilly Saturday morning.

But the strapping defensive lineman and quarterback were not elated over a victory on the gridiron. They were making fist bumps with their friend and Malvern resident Jordan Van Sciver, who just performed admirably in the soccer-skills competition during the 2009 Pennsylvania Fall Special Olympics at Villanova University. The football players and other Great Valley students came out to support Van Sciver, a beloved assistant manager on the football team. Read more..