Basketball

Special Olympics introduced basketball to our lineup of sports in 1968, and it has been one of our most popular sports ever since. Basketball is also offered as a Unified sport, and more than 189,000 athletes and Unified partners train and compete every year. At the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, we anticipate to host 5v5 and 3v3 competitions.

How It’s Played:
Whether you grew up with the sport or you are new to the game, here are some of the fundamentals to the game: Basketball is a fast-paced team sport played on a rectangular court, typically indoors and between two teams of five players each. The objective is to score points by shooting the ball through the opposing team’s hoop, which is mounted 10 feet above the ground. Players dribble, pass, and shoot the ball to advance it toward their opponent’s basket. The team with the most points at the end of the game, usually consisting of four quarters, wins. Basketball requires athleticism, skill, and teamwork, with players employing tactics such as offensive plays, defensive strategies, and quick transitions to outmaneuver their opponents.