Special Olympics Illinois transforms the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to realize their full potential in sports and in life. Special Olympics Illinois transforms the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to realize their full potential in sports and in life. Provide year-round sports training and athletic 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, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.