Venues & Sports

Athletics

Athletics – 180 athletes will participate in both track and field events at Morton Stadium. Events offered range from 25M on track to 5,000M and the field events include both standing long jump and long jump, mini javelin in both 300grms and 400grms as well as shot putt in varying weights. 

Badminton

50 athletes will take to the newly refurbished courts in Baldoyle the National Badminton Centre. Athletes will participate in singles and doubles and mixed doubles events. SOI are excited to be in this venue as one of the last Special Olympics events hosted here was the World Games in 2003.

Basketball

18 teams will compete in Basketball Team Competition (5-on-5). 10 male teams and 8 female teams will play numerous matches over the course of the 3 days in Gormanston Park. With 4 courts available the atmosphere promises to be exciting and fast paced throughout the competition.

Bocce

80 players are going to showcase their skill and tactics on the courts in the National Indoor Arena. This is an extremely tactical game, and athletes will participate in both singles and doubles/mixed doubles. Our programme has been enhanced with the newer inflatable courts and for the first time athletes will play with red and blue balls.

Bowling

Bowling – 120 athletes will be hoping to strike it lucky on the lanes at Leisureplex, Coolock. One of Special Olympics Ireland’s (SOI) top participation sports, bowling, has continued its popularity in all 5 SOI ’s regions. Athletes in bowling will participate in singles and doubles over the course of the 3 days and will play a 3 games series in each event as well as 3 games for divisioning on Day 1.

Equestrian

With 30 athletes participating in equestrian; this promises to be one of the highlight events in the amazing Stewart’s Therapy Hub in Kilcloon. Athletes will participate in dressage, working trails and equitation jumping. This venue has everything needed to give our riders a top-class experience, with state-of-the-art facilities and a range of horses to suit all riders from the smaller ponies to big 16/17 hand beauties.

Football

The FAI pitches on the Sport Ireland Campus is the place to be with 170 athletes across 14 teams competing in 7-a-side football over the weekend of the Games. Athletes will play in shortened divisioning games on Friday before being assigned to their final divisions and pool matches which will continue Saturday with most finals played on Sunday. Will we have any penalty shoot outs we wonder….

Golf

Special Olympics Ireland are delighted to be hosting our golf competition in Westmanstown Golf Club. 50 athletes will compete out on the course across Levels, 2, 4 and 5 with a further 30 athletes participating in the Level 1 skills. All athletes will play 3 rounds of competition. Do you know what the 6 skills are that form the Level 1 competition?

Gymnastics (Rhythmic)

25 athletes will participate in the rhythmic event and the apparatus in play are Ball, Hoop, Ribbon and Rope with the Floor being a compulsory element for all athletes.

Gymnastics (Artistic)

65 athletes will participate on their apparatus in the National Gymnastics Training Centre over the course of 3 days. Men will participate in 6 events, Floor, Pommel, Vault, Rings, Parallel Bars and Horizontal Bar with the women’s event seeing all athletes participate in Floor, Vault, Beam and Uneven Bars.

Kayaking

30 athletes will take to the Liffey at The Garda Boat Club in Chapelizod. Athletes will compete in distances of 200m and 500m. These 2026 Games see the addition of a doubles event at this level for the very first time.

Motor Activity Training Program

74 athletes representing all 5 regions will participate in the programme on Friday 19th June. This is the first time the new format for MATP will be introduced and showcased, where athletes can select from a range of gross motor skills and movements and demonstrate their development.

Swimming

160 athletes will participate in our swimming competition hosted in the National Aquatic Centre. Events will range from assisted walks and floatation races to 1500m and will include all 4 strokes……. can you name all 4?

Table Tennis

50 athletes will participate in table-tennis which will be hosted in the Irish Wheelchair facility in Clontarf in both singles and doubles events. As they will play on green tables the ball in use will be white, but do you know what colour ball is used if we were using blue tables?