Special Olympics Floorball is played four versus four (three field players + goalies). The playing area is 20 x 12 m.
Floorball has been introduced to Special Olympics in 2008, being one of the youngest and most rapid growing sport.
The IFF and the Special Olympics signed the Proclamation for partnership during the IFF General Assembly 2011 and the IFF and Special Olympics have looked into different ways of strengthening the cooperation.
In 2023, there were over 50,000 players with intellectual disability playing floorball, and also players without intellectual disabilities engaged in Unified Sports Floorball in 97 countries around the world.
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education and leadership programs every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities.
Founded in 1968, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 6 million athletes and Unified Sports partners in more than 193 countries. With the support of more than 1 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 40 Olympic-type sports and over 100,000 games and competitions throughout the year.
Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organisations recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Special Olympics provides sports opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities of all ability levels.
Special Olympics World Games
The Special Olympics World Games is a multi-sport event for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Floorball entered the Special Olympics World Games for the first time in 2013, in Pyeongchang, South Korea, as a demonstration sport.
- 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Graz, Austria on 14-25 March. 43 teams (male and female) from 30 countries
- 2021 Special Olympics World Winter Games planned in Kazan, Russia – cancelled.
- 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy on 8—16 March – 32 teams (male and female) from 30 countries
- 2029 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Switzerland
Special Olympics Floorball Resource Team
The Special Olympics Floorball Resource team was established in June 2012 and consists of a chair, member, and liaison.
Steen Houman (DEN & IFF), chair, Steenhou(at)roskilde.dk – SOI Global Advisor, SRT chair
Mirek Krogulec (POL & SOEE), mkrogulec(at)specialolympics.org – SOI liaison
Aldo Doninelli (SUI & SOEE), doninelli(at)specialolympics.ch
Sarah Mitchell (IFF), mitchell(at)floorball.sport – IFF Event Manager
Special Olympics Floorball Materials
Special Olympics Floorball Rules of the Game ENG & SO Floorball Rules ESP
Special Olympics Floorball Digital Coaching Guide
Special Olympics Floorball Individual Skill Contest (ISC) & Score Sheet ISC
Special Olympics Floorball video clips on IFF Youtube channel
Special Olympics Floorball photos on IFF Flickr
Special Olympics Floorball education material on Special Olympics website here
Special Olympics Unified Floorball video clip
More Special Olympics information:
Special Olympic website: www.specialolympics.org
Special Olympics Facebook: www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympics
Special Olympics Instagram: www.instagram.com/specialolympics
Special Olympics Twitter: twitter.com/SpecialOlympics
Special Olympics YouTube: www.youtube.com/SpecialOlympicsHQ
