Team Montana Gears Up for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

Forty-six Special Olympics Montana athletes and Unified partners are putting in the work, preparing to represent our state at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota. These athletes are more than ready to show the nation the heart, talent, and determination that Montana brings to the world stage.

The Biggest Stage of All

From June 20 to 26, 2026, more than 3,000 athletes and Unified partners from across the country will come together for one unforgettable week. They’ll compete in 16 different sports, cheered on by thousands of coaches, volunteers, and fans. For Team Montana, the spotlight will be on Unified Basketball, Aquatics, Athletics, Bocce, Bowling, Golf, and Gymnastics.

Representing Communities Across Montana

The 46 athletes and Unified partners hail from 17 different Montana communities, supported by 18 dedicated coaches and staff members. Montana’s competitors will take part in seven sports, from a fierce 5v5 Unified Basketball team to doubles and solo events in swimming, bocce, and beyond.

Training Hard, Dreaming Big

“Team Montana is training hard and excited to show the world what they’re made of,” said Brittani Bush, VP of Sports at Special Olympics Montana. She added, “We invite everyone in Montana to cheer them on every step of the way.”

More Than Just a Competition

The Special Olympics USA Games aren’t only about medals. They’re about inclusion, courage, joy, and connection. In Minnesota, 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers, and 75,000 fans will come together in one powerful celebration. It’s a moment that sparks change not just in the athletes’ lives, but in entire communities.

A Mission That Inspires

Special Olympics exists to give children and adults with intellectual disabilities the chance to experience the joy of sports year round. It’s about more than training and competition, it’s about building confidence, friendships, and opportunities that last a lifetime.

A Vision for Inclusion

At its heart, Special Olympics believes in an inclusive world for all. Through the power of sport, people with intellectual disabilities can live active, healthy, and fulfilling lives. And each time these athletes step into the arena, they bring that vision closer to reality.

A Movement with Deep Roots

It all began in the 1950s and 60s when Eunice Kennedy Shriver saw that children with intellectual disabilities didn’t have a place to play. She started a summer camp in her own backyard, which grew into the very first Special Olympics Summer Games in Chicago in 1968. What began as one woman’s vision has grown into a global movement reaching 193 countries and serving over 5.4 million athletes.

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Montana’s Proud History

Special Olympics Montana joined the movement in 1970, hosting its first State Summer Games in Billings for about 400 athletes. Since then, it has grown into something remarkable, now serving over 3,000 athletes statewide, offering 13 sports, and hosting more than 25 competitions every year.