The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round athletic training and sports competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults 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 and other Special Olympics athletes and the community. The concept of Special Olympics began in the early 1960's in Chicago, Illinois, and North Carolina held its first Games in 1970 in Burlington. SONC is one of the largest volunteer-driven sports organizations in the state, with more than 20,000 volunteers. Based on the 2022 Special Olympics Athlete Census, SONC has nearly 40,000 registered athletes.