Bowling

While not an Olympic sport, bowling is very popular in the Special Olympics community due to its ease of access, combined with its opportunity for high skill expression. First offered at the 1975 World Games in Mt. Pleasant, MI, bowling now sees over 177,000 athletes and Unified partners train and compete in the sport each year. At the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, athletes will compete in singles, doubles (traditional and Unified), and teams of four (traditional and Unified). Athletes that use a ramp to bowl will be divisioned within those events to compete against other ramp bowlers according to their ability level.

How It’s Played:
Bowling is a precision-based sport that emphasizes coordination, accuracy, and consistency. At the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, athletes and Unified partners will compete in singles, doubles, and teams of four. The objective is to knock down all ten pins at the end of a lane using a bowling ball over the course of 10 frames, with each frame consisting of up to two rolls. A “strike” is earned when all pins are knocked down on the first roll, while a “spare” is achieved when all pins are cleared on the second roll. A strike earns ten points plus the total pins knocked down in the next two rolls, while a spare earns ten points plus the pins knocked down on the next roll. In the tenth frame, bowlers who roll a strike or spare earn additional rolls to determine their final score. Bowling requires focus and adaptability as athletes adjust to lane conditions and aim for the perfect game—a score of 300 achieved with 12 consecutive strikes.