This weekend Athletes and Unified partners will compete in Individual Skills, Traditional 5v5 Soccer, Unified Sports® 5v5 Soccer, Traditional 6v6 Volleyball and Unified 6v6 Volleyball at the 2022 Special Olympics Fall State Games presented by Providence. More than 300 athletes and Unified partners and 100 coaches will be participating in this two-day event that will showcase soccer and volleyball teams from across the state on their respective fields of play and will also provide some exciting additional special events and experiences.  

Coinciding with our Fall State Games, SOOR will be hosting our 4th in-person Athlete Leadership Council (ALC) Conference starting on Friday 18th until Sunday 20th November. This will be our first in-person Athlete Leadership Council meeting since October 2019.     

Please join us in wishing the best of luck to all our athletes, Unified Partners and coaches who will be competing this weekend. We hope you are all brave in the attempt.  
EVENTS
Polar Plunge
January - March 2023
On the heels of a record-breaking Plunge season, Special Olympics Oregon is excited to launch into 2023! This year Polar Plungers can join in the fun at nine different locations, plus an all-new Executive Plunge Challenge.
Fall State Games
November 19-20
We are excited to be back in person, but need your help! Come down and VOLUNTEER to CHEER! Our athletes love to see and hear fans in the stands cheering for them! Spend time with your friends watching the game and cheering for the teams!
Chocolate Bar Drive
November-December
During the months of November and December 2022, Rocket stores will be running a chocolate drive in approximately 350 locations across California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado where you will be able to purchase an assortment of $1 chocolate bars and have a portion of the proceeds go towards supporting the local chapter of the Special Olympics. 
"(SOOR) has changed my life for the better because I love competing and I love being an athlete."
- Mary, High Dessert Athlete

SPOTLIGHT
Athlete
Sportsmanship

“Photo of the day.. our athlete Sierra Bigelow was having an anxiety attack before her event, the developmental 15 meter walk. This was her first year of swimming and she was crying and likely not going to compete when the competitor next to her from another team, Michelle, began to comfort her. She coaxed her into the pool and held her hands to the starting point in the middle of the pool. Once Sierra was comfortable they got in position and the two raced with Michelle edging out Sierra for the gold medal. I thanked Michelle afterward and her response was that it was no problem, she remembered her first race being really scary so she knew what Sierra was going through. Mike, our assistant coach who was with me, was teary-eyed. The humanity and sportsmanship displayed at these events is overwhelming sometimes.” - Head Swimming Coach, Sandra Andrews  
Volunteer
Law Enforcement Torch Run

Recently, Springfield Police Department's Tiffany Monroe traveled to the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics International Conference. Tiffany has volunteered with Special Olympics Oregon for nearly 12 years and currently serves as the Chair of the Oregon Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

While at the conference, Tiffany was presented with a plaque that recognizes Oregon LETR for raising an astounding $433,518 for Special Olympics programs in the state throughout 2021.

Congratulations, Tiffany & thank you for all that you do for not only SPD but also Oregon Special Olympics Athletes!
Special Olympics Oregon | soor.org
Our Mission
Special Olympics Oregon provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children, youth and adults living with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.