Category: News
Special Olympics Southern California Mourns the Passing of Founder Rafer Johnson
Special Olympics Southern California was saddened to hear of the passing of Rafer Johnson, founder of SOSC, humanitarian, and Olympic Gold Medalist. The entire SOSC community, including athletes, volunteers, partners, and staff, mourns this loss. Today we lost one of our family members and one of the biggest champions for people with intellectual disabilities. ...
SOSC To Host Fall Extravaganza to Promote Wellness During COVID-19
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Special Olympics Southern California has found ways to continue its essential health, wellness, fitness, and educational programming virtually, and now, it will continue the celebration with a Fall Extravaganza. The Extravaganza will feature several engaging virtual events during October and November to inspire athletes, volunteers, and supporters to get moving and ...
LA Galaxy to Host Virtual Soccer Clinic; SOSC Athletes Invited to Attend
The Los Angeles Galaxy are conducting a virtual soccer clinic this Saturday, October 17 for the non-profit Academia de Futbol Juvenil Amatense (AFJA). Special Olympics Southern California high school athletes and Unified Partners are invited to participate. AFJA serves youth athletes in low income communities, mostly in Central America. They have even partnered with some ...
Reach Every Athlete
As announced in August, Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) has made the decision to cancel all in-person activity through March 2021 and shift our focus and approach to virtual programming and long-term planning. THE PLAN Survey: Learn about each individual athlete’s interests and ability to participate, barriers to participating, and preferred means of receiving SOSC ...
Update Regarding SOSC’s Plans for the 2020 Fall & 2020-2021 Winter Sports Season Due to the Coronavirus
In an effort to keep athlete and volunteer safety at the forefront as we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, we are unable to offer any official in-person activities or gatherings through March 2021. This includes: All Fall 2020 Sports Season training and competitions for Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball. All Winter 2020-2021 ...
Special Olympics CA Not Included in Initial State Budget; California Voters Push for Inclusion
California voters are urging their elected officials to include Special Olympics California in the revised state budget during the COVID-19 crisis. Special Olympics California was notably missing from the initial budget, but voters are pushing for inclusion in a last effort to ensure state funding for over 64,000 people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics California ...
Fall Season Update Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic
Based on our on-going consideration of current information, SOSC has made the decision to cancel all Fall competitions including all local, Regional, and Chapter competitions. We will continue with Healthy Lifestyle Challenge in the Fall to engage the entire SOSC community in not only staying active , but to help keep our community of athletes, ...
California Voters Urge State Funding for Special Olympics CA
California voters are calling on their elected officials to support Assemblymember Tim Grayson’s budget request to continue state funding of Special Olympics California during the COVID-19 health crisis. Asm. Grayson strongly supports a $6 million budget request to continue funding Special Olympics California programs at their current levels. Special Olympics California allocates 100-percent of the ...
The Minnesota Vikings & LA Chargers to Host Unified Flag Football Game
Watch Special Olympics athletes and law enforcement compete to raise money for Special Olympics LONG BEACH, Calif. (Nov. 26, 2019) — Special Olympics athletes and law enforcement will take to the gridiron to compete in the Unified LA Chargers vs Minnesota Vikings flag football game on December 15 at Dignity Health Sports Park. This exhibition ...
Global Messenger Touted for Outreach
By Emma Lee Long Beach/Whittier athlete Jared Kozak was presented with the Richard L. Van Kirk Outstanding Outreach Achievement Award at Special Olympics Southern California's Board of Directors meeting on Thursday. Presented annually since 2001, the award is named after Special Olympics Southern California’s first president. After passing away in November 2018, his son now ...